British Airways has announced that it is launching service between London and St. Louis beginning in 2026. This will be the UK flag carrier’s 27th destination in the United States and continues its strategy of serving smaller U.S. destinations from its hub at London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR).
British Airways Will Fly Between London and St. Louis 4x Weekly
British Airways will launch 4x weekly flights between London and St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) beginning on April 19, 2026. The flight will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays using Boeing 787 aircraft outfitted in a three cabin configuration: Club World (Business Class), World Traveler Plus (Premium Economy), and World Traveler (Economy).
Flights on the 4,200 mile route are blocked at eight hours and five minutes eastbound and nine hours and five minutes westbound. Flights will operate on the following schedule:
| Flight | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| BA 220 (STL-LHR) | 10:00p | 12:05p (+1) |
| BA 221 (LHR-STL) | 4:25p | 7:30p |
Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, said this about the launch of flights to St. Louis:
“St. Louis is a fantastic addition to our US network – it’s a destination in itself as a city with a rich history and a vibrant cultural scene, as well as a gateway to exciting destinations beyond this. As the only direct route from the UK, this service will open up exciting new opportunities for our customers and further strengthen ties between the UK and the US Midwest.”
Which Terminal Will British Airways Use in St. Louis?
St. Louis currently has two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Currently, all international flights without border preclearance arrive and depart from Terminal 2. However, British Airways’ joint venture partner American Airlines operates from Terminal 1 and has an Admirals Club at the airport. Southwest Airlines and Lufthansa operate from Terminal 2.
In theory British Airways would want to co-locate with its partner but, since the two terminals are not connected airside, all British Airways flights would need to arrive at Terminal 2 and be towed to Terminal 1 prior to departure. If British Airways elects to fully operate out of Terminal 2, it is likely that premium passengers would have access to the Wingtips Lounge.
Summary
British Airways is launching 4x weekly flights between London and St. Louis for the summer travel season. The flights will launch on April 19, 2026 using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Flights will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
I wouldn’t have predicted that. St. Louis is a dying airport in a struggling city that’s one of the most dangerous in North America – with murder and crime rates that would make much of South America blush. I hope nobody from the UK decides to vacation in St. Louis just because it’s easy to get to.