British Airways is launching the only direct flight between London and Santiago in Chile from 3rd January 2017. Santiago will become the airline’s lengthiest long-haul route, taking 14 hours 40 minutes, nearly an hour more than the current longest flight of 13 hours 50 minutes service to Buenos Aires.
The four-a-week flights will be served by the airline’s newest aircraft, the four-cabin B787-9 Dreamliner, complete with a new First cabin.
Alex Cruz, Chairman and Chief Executive, British Airways, said: “In recent years we have been increasing our services to South and Central America, reflecting the area’s continued growth in business and tourism. This year we have already launched flights to Costa Rica and Peru, and the addition of Santiago will secure another important link between the UK and the region.
“The Chilean economy has been steadily growing, with increasing trade links to Europe, so this new direct route will respond to the need for travel between the two capital cities to do business face-to-face.
“Equally, Chile is of enormous appeal to leisure travellers, especially those looking for adventure, exploration and experiences, thanks to its outstanding and diverse natural beauty and attractions and its great food and wine.”
Chile
There is something for everyone in Chile as a destination. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy skiing and snowboarding around Santiago, trekking around the Andes or watersports along the extensive coastline. Thanks to the country’s natural wonders, from the driest desert in the world, to the lakes and glaciers, and the huge swathes of National Park, there are many different animals and birds to be seen.
Chile also has a rich culture to explore, from Easter Island with its Moai statues to Valparaiso’s old quarter, which has UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The city of Santiago is also fascinating and the region’s food and drink, especially the wine, is renowned. Thanks to all that coastline and the islands around Chile, there are plenty of beach holidays for travellers wanting a relaxing break.
B787-9 Dreamliners
British Airways is taking delivery of 21 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, five of which arrived in 2015 and 11 of which will arrive this year. The final five will be delivered during 2018.
They feature a new First cabin, thanks to the fact the B787-9 is 20ft longer than the B787-8. The cabin is a private eight-suite space, with four additional storage areas around each seat, including an ottoman, a personal suiter, a locker for small personal effects and a device stowage space complete with device powering capability. Inflight entertainment is shown on a 23″ fixed screen and a smart ‘jog-dial’ manages the seat’s recline, headrest and lumbar inflate and a ‘global’ lighting control to set both ambient and reading lighting.
