British Airways will resume ticket sales for short-haul flights on Monday, August 15, ending the airline’s two-week suspension on the purchase of flights to domestic and European destinations from Heathrow.
The flag-carrier introduced a temporary moratorium on sales at the start of the month in a bid to manage capacity and limit disruption during the peak summer season.
BA announced on Friday that the pause on ticket sales would not be extended, but that it “may take targeted action to limit the number of seats or fares available if necessary on certain flights.”
The IAG-owned airline had said that it brought in the sales suspension for a number of destinations to leave capacity for existing customers to rebook flights if needed, following a wave of earlier flight cancellations.
It said it would continue to manage bookings within the passenger cap which was introduced by Heathrow airport in July and limited the number of departures at 100,000 per day until September 11.
Heathrow introduced the controversial cap after a shortage of staff led to chaotic scenes of baggage mountains, long queues and flight cancellations.
The West London airport, which has been plagued by problems since travel resumed after most pandemic restrictions were removed, had ordered airlines to “stop selling summer tickets to limit the impact on passengers”.
Heathrow blamed the travel disruption on a staffing crisis among airlines, including of ground crew, security and baggage handlers, on the severe travel disruptions.
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British Airways has been flying for over 100 years. It was founded as Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited in 1919. All photos: Getty Images -
A British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft taking off in 2021 -
British Airways employees welcome Olympians returning from the Tokyo Olympics at Heathrow Airport in August 2021 -
A British Airways Boeing 747-400 aircraft arrives at St Athan Airport in Wales in 2020, after setting off for its last flight -
A British Union flag flies from the cockpit of a new Airbus A380 aircraft after landing at Heathrow Airport in 2013 -
Spectators watch as the last Concorde lands at Heathrow Airport in 2003 -
British Airways Concordes at Glasgow Airport in 1983 -
David Nicholson, the first chairman of British Airways after the merger of a number of UK airlines, proudly displays a model of the Concorde in 1973 -
The first Boeing 747 to be operated by the British Overseas Airways Corporation arrives at Heathrow Airport in May 1970 -
Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Trident 1C medium-range commercial jets for British European Airways at de Havillands Hatfield Aerodrome in 1963 -
A British Overseas Airways Corporation Comet III aircraft on display at Farnborough in 1954. The British Overseas Airways Corporation was formed in April 1940 -
Passengers queuing to board a British European Airways Vickers Viking aircraft in 1950 -
The British Overseas Airways Corporation Short Solent passenger flying boat docks at her new berth near Tower Bridge in London in 1949 -
A British Overseas Airways Corporation air stewardess brings a tray of coffee to passengers during a Second World War flight in 1945 -
A British Airways passenger aircraft at Gatwick Airport in 1936 -
Four Handley Page W10 and one Handley Page W9 Hampstead aircraft operated by Imperial Airways are christened by Lady Maud Hoare, Viscountess Templewood, at Croydon Aerodrome in 1926. Imperial Airways was created in 1924
Heathrow’s limitation on the number of departures a day embroiled the airport in a public power struggle with Emirates airline over whether to stop selling tickets. The UAE airline eventually made “capacity adjustments” for flights to the London airport.
The airport’s chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said on Thursday that passengers had enjoyed “better, more reliable journeys” since the cap was brought in.
A BA representative said the airline would “continue to work with Heathrow to provide certainty for our existing customers, while giving opportunities for new customers to travel with us this summer.”
