British Airways will launch daily flights between London and Melbourne, via Kuala Lumpur, from January deploying a four-class Boeing Dreamliner 787-9.
From January 9, 2027, flight BA33 will depart London Heathrow daily at 9.10pm, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 6.05pm the following day and then into Melbourne at 6.40am the day after.
The return flight BA34 will depart Melbourne Airport at 4.35pm on January 11, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 21.35pm and then into London Heathrow at 5.20am the next morning.
The route opening comes as continuing conflict in the Middle East disrupts passenger traffic from Australia to Europe with thousands of flights cancelled and aircraft stranded across the region.
“We have a long history of connecting Britain and Australia, and we’re excited to be returning to this great city,” said British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer Neil Chernoff.
British Airways already has a daily service to Sydney. The additional daily flights to and from Melbourne will increase capacity from Australia to the UK with a connection in South-East Asia.
The specs
The Boeing 787-9 is a mid-size, dual aisle, twin engine jet and Boeing’s most fuel efficient aircraft to date – 20 per cent more fuel efficient than the similar sized commercial jets it is designed to replace. Composite materials make up 50 per cent of the primary structure, including the fuselage and wings.
The windows are over 30 per cent larger than those on most similarly sized aircraft and the brightness can be adjusted at the touch of a button. Serrated edges on the engine nacelles reduce the noise levels by up to 60 per cent both in and outside the cabin making the noise footprint of the 787 family aircraft around 60 per cent quieter than the previous generation of aircraft. It also features raked wingtips to further improve fuel efficiency.
The Boeing 787-9 features an evolution of BA’s First cabin, with just eight seats compared to the usual 14, increased range and is 20 feet longer and four inches taller than the 787-8.
Configuration
Capacity: 216 seats total, featuring a four-class layout.
First Class: 8 suites in a 1-2-1 configuration.
Club World (Business): 42 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration.
World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy): 39 seats.
World Traveller (Economy): 127 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.
Cabin Technology: The 787-9 features larger windows with dimming switches, LED mood lighting, and lower cabin altitude pressure to reduce jet lag.
Passenger experience
Comfort: The aircraft uses sensors to detect turbulence, providing a smoother ride.
Entertainment: Personal audio/video on demand is available in all cabins.
Power: USB and A/C power outlets are available at seats.
Operational details
Range: Approximately 7,635 nautical miles (14,140 km), making it ideal for long-distance routes.
Efficiency: Constructed with composite materials, it is 20% more fuel-efficient than similar-sized jets.
Competing with Project Sunrise
The new service is expected to compete with Qantas’ Project Sunrise that will offer direct flights from Sydney to London that starts around the same time.
British Airways began planning the route before the Middle East war began on February 28. British Airways will offer four classes aboard the planes – first, business class, premium economy, and economy cabins – on flights that start on January 11. Sales for the tickets start on Tuesday night with fares starting at $1960 round trip Melbourne-to-London.
“We are thrilled to welcome British Airways back to Melbourne Airport and we’re incredibly excited about what this extra choice means for travellers and exporters,” Melbourne Airport chief executive officer Lorie Argus said.
British Airways joins Finnair and Turkish Airways as European airlines serving Victoria.
“With the largest choice of airlines flying to the UK and Europe, 24-hour operations and the shortest minimum connection time of any Australian airport, Melbourne Airport is now the clear choice for Europeans heading to Australia or Australians looking to travel abroad,” Argus said.
Multi-billion expansion plans
This follows Melbourne Airport revealing a planned $4.5 billion expansion of its international terminal, following the busiest summer for international travel on record.
The plans incorporate several projects, including an expansion of both international check-in and baggage claim halls to better accommodate the increasing number of passengers flying in and out of Australia’s largest 24-hour gateway.
Travel demand for South Asia also continues to soar out of Melbourne Airport with SriLankan Airlines announcing it will increase its daily services to 10 per week, adding more than 92,000 seats annually.
The additional three services will depart on Monday, Wednesday and Friday using an Airbus A330-300, touching down in Colombo at lunchtime (12:15pm).
The new flights will provide improved connectivity to Sri Lanka’s increasingly popular tourism destinations but also further afield to India, the Maldives and Europe.
The announcement follows the busiest February on record for international travel at Melbourne Airport, with passenger numbers bolstered by increased capacity from China ahead of Chinese New Year following the entry of Shenzhen Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines.
The 996,677 international travellers eclipsed the previous February record of 930,356 passengers set in February 2025, representing a 7.1 per cent year-on-year increase.
Domestic passenger numbers were up 1.6 per cent on the previous February, with a total of 1,827,825 passengers welcomed through the three domestic terminals.
Melbourne Airport chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said SriLankan Airlines’ additional services were a welcome statement of confidence in Victoria.
“Amidst the current global uncertainty, it is pleasing to see SriLankan Airlines committing more capacity to Melbourne and increasing the opportunities for international connection,” he said. “SriLankan Airlines has been a long-term partner of Melbourne Airport and we know these flights will make it easier than ever before to connect with one of our region’s most vibrant countries.
“The competition in the international market is driving better outcomes for travellers, with more international carriers than ever delivering more choice for travellers.
“While increasing year-on year, domestic travel continues to track below pre-covid levels as budget conscious travellers take advantage of cheaper international fare offerings.”
There were a number of factors contributing to the airlines’ success in the Melbourne market, SriLankan Airlines’ head of Commercial, Dimuthu Tennakoon, said.
“Melbourne has a special place in our hearts, not only because it is home to a large number of fellow Sri Lankans, but also because it was the destination that marked a historic milestone in our entry into the Australian market,” he said.
“We have witnessed steady growth in this market, and we are optimistic that this increase in frequency will pave the way for future expansions.
