British Airways has slashed up to 20 per cent off shorthaul fares from Gatwick and is introducing a new £39 one-way fare to some of its most popular destinations.

The new fares, combined with the airline’s fantastic new home in the North Terminal, mean customers are getting both exceptional value and customer service. Passengers will be able to travel on 12 of the 29 British Airways domestic and European routes from Gatwick for less than £40 one-way.

At Gatwick one-way all-inclusive fares to Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh are already competitively priced from £36, but fares to popular European cities like Malaga, Bologna and Verona are being cut and will start from £39.

Many other Gatwick routes will also have fare reductions including Innsbruck and Faro from £49, Salzburg from £59 and Marrakech from £69.

The reductions will be supported by an advertising campaign that highlights British Airways’ low fares and high value ethos at Gatwick. With the recent opening of a new dedicated check-in hall, featuring state-of-the-art technology, British Airways passengers will benefit from a premium service at non-premium prices.

Silla Maizey, British Airways managing director Gatwick said: “We are delighted to offer these low fares, and not just for a short sale period. There are no hidden costs like debit card fees, and all fares include free on-line check-in and seat selection from 24 hours before departure.

“All customers have a generous free 23 kilogram hold baggage allowance and two-piece hand luggage allowance, the opportunity to print their own boarding cards and bag tags, and complimentary refreshments on board the aircraft.”

She added: “We are delighted with our new home at Gatwick which has made check-in easier and faster for customers, giving them more time to relax before boarding their flight. Some of the new technology is a first for British Airways worldwide and will bring massive benefits for our customers.”

British Airways will be flying with Pride in Brighton on Saturday August 13 teaming up with comedy airline icon Pam Ann

The world-renowned spoof air stewardess, played by Australian comedienne Caroline Reid, will be at the helm of the British Airways float in the ‘Pride in Brighton & Hove’ parade.

British Airways is a sponsor of Pride in Brighton & Hove 2011 and the theme for this year’s festival is ‘Out of This World’.

British Airways staff and crew will walk alongside the aircraft-themed float giving away goodies to the crowds.

There will be a DJ playing music on board and a running commentary from Pam Ann.

Pam Ann last worked with British Airways four years ago when she starred in a tongue-in-cheek viral film campaign to highlight British Airways’ brilliant cabin crew service. In the first week of release the clip had over 160,000 hits and over 500 sites linked to it.

Silla Maizey, British Airways managing director Gatwick, said: “Brighton Pride is a fabulous opportunity for us to demonstrate how proud we are to have such a diverse workforce at British Airways, and to show our commitment to the wider community around us at Gatwick.

“I’m delighted that legendary performer Pam Ann, who has a long association with the airline industry, will be appearing on our float. I know that she’ll keep the crowds entertained and that Brighton Pride will be a huge success for everyone involved.”

And a word from the lady herself. Says Pam Ann: “I never got to fly BA’s Concorde, I never got to fly BA with HRH Wills and Kate, I never made it as BA cabin crew, BUT I made it onto BA’s float for Brighton Pride! I am so excited to be doing a full BA First Class service with my British Airways sistahs! See you in Brighton on August 13th! Love Pam Ann x”

Holiday trends are changing at Gatwick Airport where summer sun seekers are heading off in new directions.

Summer bookings for British Airways flights from Gatwick Airport show passengers moving away from the more traditional holiday destinations to exotic locations in Europe and the Caribbean.

This summer more passengers than ever before are jetting off on flights to Barbados, Jamaica, the Maldives, Grenada, Tobago and Puerto Rico.

Closer to home many are choosing city destinations over beach holidays and heading off to places like Rome, Amsterdam, Turin and Salzburg.

BA offers a schedule of 46 European and long haul destinations from Gatwick.

Colm Lacy, British Airways head of commercial Gatwick, said: “With a wide range of exciting destinations and low fares from Gatwick customers are trying new holiday ideas and moving away from the more traditional destinations. Our other sun routes are still popular of course but we are seeing a definite move towards European city breaks.

“We are also seeing a definite increase in long haul holidays and as the biggest operator to the Caribbean from Gatwick many of them are flying with British Airways this summer. However, there are some holiday destinations that will always remain popular, such as Orlando and Tampa.”

If you’re flying from Gatwick this summer, don’t forget to book your Gatwick airport parking in advance, particularly your Gatwick meet and greet parking.

Silla Maizey has been appointed British Airways managing director Gatwick, responsible for all the airline’s commercial activity and operations there.

Also joining her on the senior management team at Gatwick are Colm Lacy, head of commercial and Alan Peever, head of ground operations

This additional focus on Gatwick will allow British Airways to better serve business and leisure customers from this important base.

As part of the new International Airlines Group, British Airways retains its brand and control of its operations and chief executive Keith Williams has said his objective is to put the customer at the heart of everything the airline does.

British Airways has a lot of planned investment in customers in the next few years, including the expansion of its North Terminal operation at Gatwick Airport which will open later this year.

Previously leading the British Airways customer directorate, Silla was responsible for bringing together the end-to-end customer proposition with Heathrow customer services, in flight services, ba.com and global contact centres.

She was previously British Airways’ head of corporate responsibility and was responsible for creating and delivering ‘One Destination’, the airline’s corporate responsibility strategy that encompasses its environmental, community, marketplace and workplace interests.

An accountant by profession, Silla is also chairman of British Airways DC Retirement Plan and a member of the board of management of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

Colm Lacy was previously general manager network planning and joined the airline in 1997 in cargo finance. His other roles have included finance manager for airline alliances, senior manager revenue management, responsible for pricing for sales out of the UK and Ireland market, and responsibility for British Airways revenue forecasting and analysis.

He studied joint chemistry and management science at Nottingham University and is a qualified management accountant. Before joining British Airways he worked for Allied Irish Bank plc.

Colm’s strong commercial credentials will be put to good use at Gatwick where British Airways continues to grow its long haul leisure routes. He will continue to find and evaluate new business opportunities at Gatwick.

On the operational side Alan Peever’s new role is head of Gatwick ground operations. Alan and his team have been instrumental in raising British Airways’ performance at Gatwick to a new level over the last two years with record punctuality figures and excellent customer feedback.

He is responsible for all the ground based staff groups from customer services to ramp and engineering.

He is overseeing the milestone move of the British Airways’ operation to the newly extended North Terminal in the summer, which will include the introduction of state-of-the-art technology to improve the overall travelling experience for customers.

More than four and a half million passengers fly to and from Gatwick on British Airways flights every year

This summer the airline is introducing new services from Gatwick to San Juan, Marrakech and Malaga with increased frequency on some of the Caribbean routes.

BA’s Mauritius service will move from Heathrow to Gatwick, in November this year

If you’re passing through Gatwick today, keep an eye out for Dick and Dom.

The comedy duo – presenters Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood – are set to compete in the British Airways Race in the Sky for Red Nose Day.

Dick and Dom will each head up a team of volunteers who will fly on different British Airways shorthaul flights from Gatwick.

Sporting Red Noses the volunteers will be collecting on board the aircraft for ‘Flying Start’, British Airways’ global charity partnership with Comic Relief.

The winning team, competing for the title of race champions, will be the one that collects the most money by the end of the day.

In addition passengers who turn up at Gatwick with excess baggage on all British Airways flights on Monday will have another chance to support Comic Relief.

The airline is donating all ‘at airport’ excess baggage charges for the day to the charity. It won’t apply to pre-paid excess baggage. Although there is a generous free baggage allowance many passengers choose to exceed their limit. There is a scale of excess baggage charges, depending on when it is paid for, whether it’s on-line before they get to the airport, where they are travelling to and their class of travel.

Silla Maizey, British Airways managing director Gatwick, said: “Our customers will have a double chance to support Flying Start and Comic Relief on Monday and we hope they have some fun too.

“We are so grateful to Dick and Dom, and the volunteers, for giving up their day to fly on the extensive British Airways domestic and European network from Gatwick raising money for such a fantastic cause.”

Dick and Dom are due to check in at the British Airways check-in desks in Zones C and D, North Terminal, Gatwick Airport at 10.30am on Monday, March 14

British Airways is suspending its Gatwick to Sharm El Sheikh services from 3 May 2011.

Passengers due to travel to or from Sharm El Sheikh on or after 3 May 2011 will be offered the following options:

1. Utilise the value of your ticket towards the purchase of a new ticket to a different destination
2. Refund the ticket purchased to the original form or payment

British Airways is switching its Heathrow to Mauritius services to Gatwick with a revised timetable to allow customers to spend an extra day in the sun.

From November 1, flights back from the Indian Ocean isle will take off 12 hours later than at present, coinciding with the route switch.

Currently flights from Mauritius to London depart at 8.55am and arrive at 5.15pm. The changes will create evening departures for both the outbound and inbound flights to allow customers to maximise their time on holiday.

Silla Maizey, director of Gatwick, said: “We have a strong premium leisure strategy for Gatwick – we want it to be a hub for great high-end holiday destinations. Moving the Mauritius flight here helps us to strengthen this position as it will now sit alongside destinations such as the Maldives and the Caribbean.

“We’ve listened to feedback from our customers about the timings on the Mauritius flight so it’s great we’ve been able to design the new schedule around their needs. This new timing has an evening departure from Mauritius and an early morning arrival into Gatwick, giving back customers a full day at their destination when they would otherwise have been flying.

“Gatwick’s owners, GIP, are ploughing significant investment into the airport so customers can expect a new level of service there soon. The future for British Airways customers using Gatwick is very bright.”

British Airways has announced it is to double its services to Grenada during its summer season which launches on 28 March 2010.

The airline currently offers a twice-weekly-service during the winter and one flight per week during the summer months. However, from 28 March 2010, the airline will operate two flights per week.

The twice weekly Grenada flights will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft with a three-class configuration: World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World.

Flights operate via Antigua during the winter schedule, departing London Gatwick Tuesdays and Fridays and via Barbados during the new summer schedule, departing Tuesdays and Sundays.

Due to increasing demand, British Airways is set to add an additional flight to its Gatwick to St Kitts and Nevis service next year.

From March 2010, BA will operate the St Kitts and Nevis service twice a week on Saturdays and Tuesdays.

Flights will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft with a three-class configuration: World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World.

British Airways has just launched Gatwick flights to Sharm El Sheikh – one of the most popular half-term holiday destinations.

The Gatwick flights will operate three times per week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.