British Airways to launch eight new routes next year

New British Airways flights to Brindisi (Italy), Montpellier (France), Murcia (Spain), Nantes (France), Pula (Croatia), Tallinn (Estonia) and Zakynthos (Greece - pictured) have been introduced, with the first services taking to the skies from March 28, 2017.

Flights to the French city of Nantes - gateway to Brittany and the Loire Valley and the home of world famous Muscadet wines - will launch on May 3 next year, with return fares starting from £71. A two-per-week service to Montpellier will also start operating from May 2017. All destinations will be served by a mixture of A319 and A320 aircraft from Heathrow Terminal 3 and 5

British Airways is also launching a new service to Oakland, California USA from March 28, 2017. It will be the airline’s first route from Gatwick to California, and its fifth service from London to the ‘golden state’.

Oakland offers close connections to world-famous landmarks including Napa Valley, Carmel and Yosemite national park. The airport will also provide easy access to other parts of the Bay area, in particular San Francisco which is just a 30-minute ride by train or a 34-minute drive by car.

The route will be served by a 777-200ER aircraft operating four-days a week, with flights launching from £189 each way based on a return fare in World Traveller (Economy), £448 in World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) and £998 in Club World (Business Class).

All flights will earn Avios Frequent Flyer miles, which can be redeemed with British Airways to buy a flight or upgrade cabin class. It can also be used to buy or upgrade flights on British Airways' airline partners in the OneWorld alliance.