Starting from 30 March, passengers travelling from London Gatwick to Glasgow with British Airways will experience a significant change in their journey as the usual Airbus A320 jet is swapped for a slower, lower-altitude ATR72 propeller plane.
This change is due to British Airways outsourcing the route to Emerald Airlines, which operates under the Aer Lingus brand.
The new flight duration will extend to around 130 minutes, 40 minutes longer than the current jet service, and will cruise at a lower altitude.
Notably, another British Airways flight from Heathrow will depart 40 minutes after the Gatwick flight but will reach Glasgow simultaneously.
Ticket prices for this service are also higher, costing £105 one way on the inaugural day of the propeller service, compared to just £30 for the cheapest easyJet alternative. Additionally, the ATR72 will offer only one class, with no business class available.
Rob Burgess, founder of the Head for Points frequent-flyer website, highlighted this shift, suggesting that the higher fares for the daily direct flight may be intended to discourage point-to-point bookings, favouring passengers connecting to other services.
He also noted the limited overhead luggage space on the ATR72, potentially leading to more checked baggage.
The move has sparked diverse reactions among readers, with one citing the environmental benefit of reduced carbon emissions due to the fuel efficiency of propeller planes, while another pointed out the increased noise and susceptibility to turbulence.
This marks the first occasion British Airways has employed a propeller aircraft for the Gatwick to Glasgow route, marking a notable shift in service delivery.
