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We know it's a pretty weird time to be thinking about overseas holidays, what with *everything* that's currently going on in the world, but this bit of positive travel news has us tentatively hopeful of some normalcy returning next year (aka bring on that Euro summer).
From 2027, travellers will be able to fly between Melbourne and London every single day, with British Airways announcing a new service linking Melbourne Airport and Heathrow Airport via Kuala Lumpur. Yep, you will now be able to jet between the best city in the world and the fourth best city in the world with way more ease.
The new route will mark a return to Melbourne for British Airways, which forms part of the global aviation giant International Airlines Group. Through the airline’s network, Victorian travellers will gain access to more than 285 destinations worldwide.
Set to launch on January 11, 2027, the daily flights will open up a faster and more streamlined connection between Melbourne and the UK. According to the Melbourne Airport team, the UK is currently Victoria’s fourth-largest source of international visitors and its 12th-largest air freight export market, worth an estimated $376 million.
For locals planning a European escape, the move means another option for reaching London – and a smoother path onward to France, Italy and beyond. As mentioned above, it’s also expected to deliver a sizeable economic boost for the state. According to the 2025 Melbourne Airport Economic Report, a single daily international service can contribute around $190 million in gross value add to Victoria’s economy while supporting roughly 2,000 full-time jobs.
Victorian Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing Colin Brooks called the announcement a “major win” for the state, saying the new flights will strengthen ties with one of the world’s largest economies and unlock new opportunities for trade, investment and local employment.
Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos added that the extra connectivity will help bring more international visitors to Victoria – good news for hotels, restaurants and tourism operators across the state.
The expansion is part of a broader push by the Victorian Government to grow international aviation routes, which it sees as key to driving tourism, exports and business travel. Recent years have also seen new and expanded services from airlines including Delta Air Lines, Hong Kong Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines. Plus, Australian-first direct flights from Melbourne to the Maldives begin this year, along with daily services to Helsinki via Finnair.
From the airline’s perspective, the new Melbourne service forms part of a wider expansion of its long-haul network. British Airways’ chief planning and strategy officer Neil Chernoff said the airline has a long history connecting Britain and Australia and expects the route to prove popular with travellers.
You can learn more over here.
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