British Airways Targets Secondary US Cities: 5 Possible Nonstop Routes

Published Oct 30, 2026, 11:12 AM EDT Prachi is a London-based journalist with extensive experience in the aviation industry. She has worked for several leading industry publications, covering a broad range of topics. Her expertise lies in aircraft maintenance, emerging technologies, and advanced air mobility. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Journalism, focusing on data journalism and its potential to transform conventional aviation reporting. British Airways operates more flights to the United States than any other European airline. It currently serves 27 US cities, including major destinations such as New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In the latest development, the oneworld member is looking to expand its US network further, this time focusing on secondary markets. It already serves several smaller markets, such as New Orleans, Nashville, Portland, Pittsburgh, and the recently launched St. Louis. Which US Cities Could British Airways Consider? Credit: Bradley Caslin | Shutterstock According to The Points Guy, British Airways Chief Planning and Strategy Officer Neil Chernoff indicated during the Routes World conference in Frankfurt this week that “there’s still some opportunities in some secondary markets.” He did not identify any potential destinations. Well, there are several US cities that could be candidates for future services. However, it is safe to say that passenger demand will not be the only deciding factor. We regularly see airlines launching new routes partly because of financial incentives offered by airports and local authorities. For instance, Lufthansa is reportedly receiving nearly $50 million in incentives and revenue guarantees for its new Frankfurt-Columbus service, which is set to begin in May 2027. Similarly, Qatar Airways' Doha-Cardiff route was also reportedly supported by financial incentives. So, which US cities could British Airways consider? If we look at population figures, several large US metropolitan areas lack the UK flag carrier’s nonstop services. But based on passenger traffic to and from Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa, the following five cities could be the biggest winners. Average daily passengers Cleveland 1,110 Indianapolis 1,005 Columbus 930 Kansas City 875 San Antonio 670 Based on passenger traffic data for the 12 months ending August 2026, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) was the busiest individual destination market for passengers traveling to and from all five cities. So, this could work in British Airways' favor, as it could cater to passengers traveling directly to London as well as those connecting to other destinations through its Heathrow hub. Will British Airways' London-Indianapolis Flights Finally Materialize? Credit: Airlinephoto | Shutterstock Interestingly, the oneworld member has previously considered launching nonstop flights to Indianapolis International Airport (IND). Back in 2021, it applied for slots at London Heathrow to operate a daily service to the US city. However, the proposed route never materialized, as only a small number of its requested slots were approved. At the time, the proposed service raised some questions among aviation analysts, particularly because of Indianapolis' proximity to other destinations already served by British Airways. The airline operates twice-daily flights from nearby Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and also serves Nashville International Airport (BNA; daily). However, that does not necessarily rule out Indianapolis as a future destination. Besides, Indianapolis has also made efforts to attract transatlantic airlines. In 2022, IND introduced an incentive program offering up to $2 million annually for two years to airlines launching transatlantic services. The offer was available for routes announced or launched by the end of that year, although there is no confirmation that British Airways had agreed to receive the funding. For now, given the airline's previous interest, Indianapolis could still be one of the destinations worth seeing. British Airways Will Increase Flights On Four US Routes For Summer 2027 Credit: Timmy Frames | Shutterstock It remains to be seen whether British Airways will add any of the five cities to its network. Nevertheless, the United States remains one of its largest markets, and it is already planning to increase frequencies on several existing routes for summer 2027. From its main hub, the carrier will offer additional flights to Cincinnati, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and St. Louis. Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) will both see daily services, up from five to six weekly flights and four weekly flights, respectively. Meanwhile, flights to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas will increase from 13 weekly to twice daily. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will see an additional daily frequency, taking the total to three flights per day. Overall, according to schedule data from an aviation analytics provider, Cirium, during a typical week in June next year, the UK airline is scheduled to operate around 366 flights to the US (51 to 53 daily departures), offering approximately 101,378 seats. New York JFK Airport (JFK) will remain its busiest destination, receiving nine daily flights. Boston, Washington Dulles, Los Angeles, and Chicago O'Hare will follow, each receiving three daily departures.