British Airways celebrates 75 years connecting the UK with Japan

British Airways (formerly known as British Overseas Airways Corporation or BOAC) became the first British airline to operate passenger flights between the United Kingdom and Japan 75 years ago.

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On March 19, 1948, BOAC extended its Plymouth Poole-Hong Kong class flying boat service to Iwakuni. In November, weekly service was extended to Yokohama, Tokyo, with seven-day flights and stopovers in seven cities en route – Augusta, Alexandria, Karachi, Calcutta, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Iwakuni.

For flights between London Heathrow and Tokyo Haneda, the airline has debuted its new business class Club Suite cabin to mark the occasion. From October 31, British Airways will be the only airline to offer a full privacy gate Business Class suite on non-stop flights between the UK and Japan.

«It all started with a flying boat and now Tokyo is one of our oldest and most valued destinations. We are incredibly proud of our heritage – it has been our pleasure to connect British travelers to Japan since 1948 – and we look forward to continuing to serve them for the next 75 years and beyond, as we continue our investment in new products, customer experience and technology«, said Colm Lacy, British Airways Chief Commercial Officer.

British Airways will offer customers in all four cabins a special menu to mark the occasion created by the airline’s chefs for flights between Heathrow and Haneda that will be available from September 1 through October 31.

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The airline’s flat-bed Club Suite seat provides direct aisle access and sliding door for privacy in a 1-2-1 configuration. It also features 40% more storage space, including a vanity and mirror, WiFi and enviable 18.5-inch in-flight entertainment screens.

From September 1, First Class passengers flying to and from Tokyo will receive the best service offered by the airline, plus bedding and toiletries created by luxury British fashion brand Temperley London, products from ELEMIS, including the famous ULTRA SMART PRO-COLLAGEN range and bedding made from recycled plastic bottles.

Highlights

• BA 5/BA 6 flights between Heathrow and Haneda will be operated on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from October 31, 2023 to March 29, 2024.
• The First Class product will be available on all flights between the UK and Japan between September 1 and March 29, 2024.
• BA 7/BA 8 flights will be operated on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft

See also: British Airways Adds Flights To Three New Cities From London-Heathrow