British Airways is launching flights from London Heathrow to Bermuda for what will be the first time in 32 years.
From next March, the airline will operate a daily service between London Heathrow and L F Wade International Airport in Bermuda.
The non-stop service takes 7 hours and 20 minutes, meaning travellers can leave London just before 3pm and be on the islands by 6.25pm local time.
Flights will be operated on a Boeing 777-200, soon to be fitted with British Airways' new Club Suite.
The launch date is set for March 28, 2021, and return fares will start from £510 ($660).
"We are delighted to launch flights from Heathrow to Bermuda. This is the first time we have flown to Bermuda from London’s biggest airport for over three decades," said Neil Chernoff, BA’s director of network and alliances.
Known for its pink sand beaches and secluded islands, Bermuda has been part of British Airways' network for more than 85 years. Until the Heathrow route reopens next year, travellers seeking Bermuda's idyllic North Atlantic Ocean shorelines can fly there from London Gatwick.
Bermuda is open to travellers
Bermuda reopened to visitors in July. A number of precautionary measures are in place to try to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on the islands.
These include obtaining a negative Covid-19 test certificate before flying, completing a travel authorisation form and paying a $75 fee to cover the cost of Covid-19 testing in Bermuda.
Upon landing at L F Wade International Airport, all travellers will be tested for Covid-19. Visitors must then quarantine until results are ready, typically in about 24 hours. Travellers must also have valid health insurance to cover treatment after a Covid-19 diagnosis in Bermuda.
Additional Covid-19 tests are to be carried out on days four, eight and 14 of trips, at an approved testing centre in Bermuda. These are automatically booked for travellers. People must also wear masks in public spaces and adhere to physical-distancing guidelines, as well as take their temperature twice a day and record it on the official Bermuda Covid-19 app.
New flights to Pakistan, the Maldives and Barbados
In addition to Bermuda, British Airways is also planning three new routes from London Heathrow. Flights to Lahore in Pakistan will start on Monday, October 12, while services to the Maldives and Barbados will begin on Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17, respectively.
The airline has increased its long-haul network by recently resuming services to several destinations. Flights are now operating to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Bahrain from London, and services to Grenada and the Seychelles are planned to commence later this month.
