Air freight capacity heading direct to London is set for a boost in January 2027 with the announcement of a new daily direct service from British Airways.
The new service will travel from Melbourne Airport to London Heathrow, via Kuala Lumpur.
The UK is Victoria’s twelfth largest air freight export market, most recently valued at $376 million. It is also the fourth largest source of international visitors to the state.
In a statement announcing the new services, British Airways says the flights will not only bolster tourism and business travel between the two destinations, it will also provide exporters with faster and more efficient access to a key global market.
From a broader perspective, the 2025 Melbourne Airport Economic report found that a single daily international service contributes an estimated $190 million (direct and indirect) in gross value add to Victoria’s economy, and helps to support 2,000 FTE jobs.
British Airways Chief Planning and Strategy Officer Neil Chernoff says the Melbourne flights were part of a growing Winter 2026 flying schedule for the airline.
“We have a long history of connecting Britain and Australia, and we’re excited to be returning to this great city,” Chernoff says.
“We’re also increasing services across several high-demand routes around the world and together, these changes represent a significant investment in our network, adding even more options and choice for our customers.”
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus says it is another win for the international terminal.
“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 says.