Breaking down the economics of British Airways’ new Charleston-to-London nonstop service
British Airways’ new twice weekly nonstop service from Charleston to London’s Heathrow Airport may be a “toe in the water” for now, but if the numbers bear out, the route could turn into a strategic portal for the airline to shuttle travelers to London and the rest of Europe.
Last year, 8,652 people flew from Charleston International Airport to London, according to John Grant, a senior analyst with OAG, a U.K.-based airline data clearinghouse that does business with companies like British Airways. About a quarter of those London travelers flew through Atlanta.
So, with less than 9,000 Charleston travelers flying to London in a year, what does British Airways see in Charleston that, until now, other airlines have not? For that answer, you have to look at where else Charleston travelers were flying and how they got there.
