Heathrow says six new routes and two airlines new to the airport will be flying from London this winter. The list, published by the airport on October 19, spans a Thai beach island, Central America, the Canary Islands, southern China and Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast.
Two of the routes are already flying. The rest start between late October and early January.
The six routes
Here is what Heathrow lists, with the frequency and start date it gives for each:
| Route | Airline | Flights | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket | Virgin Atlantic | 3 a week | Oct 18, 2026 |
| San José, Costa Rica | British Airways | 5 a week | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Fuerteventura | British Airways | 2 a week | Dec 13, 2026 |
| Red Sea, Saudi Arabia | beOnd | 3 a week | Dec 15, 2026 |
| Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur | British Airways | Daily | Jan 9, 2027 |
| Xiamen | Xiamen Airlines | 3 a week | Sept 6, 2026 |
Xiamen Airlines and beOnd are the two airlines that are new to Heathrow. The airport dates the Xiamen service from September 6, so it is already running even though it sits on the winter list.
What stands out for premium travelers
Virgin Atlantic to Phuket is the headline for leisure flyers. It gives Virgin a nonstop beach route in Southeast Asia, and Upper Class passengers get the airline's flagship lounge before they leave. The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Terminal 3 remains one of the best airline lounges at the airport, with a full cocktail bar and table-service dining.
British Airways to Melbourne is a return rather than a brand-new market. BA will stop in Kuala Lumpur on the way, and we covered the plan in more detail when it was first announced. The stop lets you break the trip, but it also makes for a long day.
British Airways to San José gives BA another long-haul leisure route in Central America. Fuerteventura adds a twice-weekly winter-sun option for Canary Islands travelers, though most short-haul BA passengers will only see a lounge with status or a Club Europe ticket.
beOnd is the oddity on the list. It is a small premium leisure airline, and Heathrow says its Red Sea flights connect onward to the Maldives on beOnd's own network. Heathrow does not say which terminal beOnd or Xiamen Airlines will use, or what lounge either offers. If you are booked on either, check with the airline before you plan your time airside.
Where to wait
British Airways flies most of its Heathrow program from Terminal 5. Club World passengers and oneworld Sapphire members can use the Galleries Club South or Galleries Club North. Gold card holders and first class passengers get Galleries First. Our list of the best lounges in Terminal 5 covers the other options, including the paid ones.
Virgin Atlantic leaves from Terminal 3, which has its own list of the best Terminal 3 lounges. Upper Class passengers and Flying Club Gold members go to the Clubhouse.
Why Heathrow is talking about it
The airport frames the new airlines as proof of demand at a hub that is close to full. In the release, chief customer officer Ross Baker said that "expansion is needed so we can continue adding new routes." That links back to the long fight over a third runway, which we covered when Parliament took up the plan.
For travelers, the point is simpler. Heathrow is short of slots, so a new route there is a real commitment by the airline. Two new carriers in one season is not common at an airport this crowded.
You can see every lounge at the airport on our Heathrow page, along with the 10 best Heathrow lounges in 2026.
