Nonstop flight to London delayed again
British Airways stopped flying to Pittsburgh in March
Efforts to resume the subsidy-backed British Airways nonstop between Pittsburgh and London amid the COVID-19 pandemic once again have stalled at the gate.
The airline confirmed Wednesday that it would not restart the flight from Pittsburgh International Airport on March 28 as planned. It is the third time this year British Airways has failed to meet a promised return date.
“We are sorry that, like other airlines, due to the current coronavirus pandemic and global travel restrictions, we are operating a reduced and dynamic schedule,” the carrier stated. “We will be in touch with any customers whose flights are affected and advise customers to check ba.com for the latest flight information.”
British Airways stopped flying to Pittsburgh on March 15 in part because of travel restrictions imposed between Europe and the United States to try to stop the spread of the virus.
It missed Aug. 2 and Oct. 2 dates for resuming the flight, which operated four times a week, before announcing the March 28 return. British Airways did not set a new return date in its latest statement.
Nonetheless, the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which operates Pittsburgh International, is working with the airline “regarding when service will resume,” spokesman Bob Kerlik said.
He added the airport has not been told the flight has been canceled.
“Airlines and airports are faced with travel restrictions globally amid the ongoing pandemic, and we appreciate that airlines, specifically carriers flying internationally, will likely continue to adjust dates due to evolving government travel restrictions and other pandemic effects,” he said.
“It’s important that this flight succeeds and we continue to work with them to determine the right time to resume.”
According to the British publication London Air Travel, Pittsburgh and two other North American routes — Calgary and Charleston, S.C. — have been suspended permanently by the airline.
The British Airways nonstop was launched with great fanfare in April 2019 backed by $3 million in subsidies over two years.
At the time, it represented quite a coup for the airport, which had been courting the airline for years before finally getting a yes. Pittsburgh had not had a nonstop to London since 2004.
Amid the pandemic, the airport also has lost a seasonal twice-weekly flight between Pittsburgh and Frankfurt, Germany. It paid the carrier $500,000 over two years for the service.
Mr. Kerlik said the airport still is hoping to get that flight back once the pandemic ends.