British Airways to Launch Longest Flight

London – Santiago

British Airways has unveiled its longest flight ever. The new route will launch in January 2017 and run between London and Santiago, the capital of Chile. At 14 hours and 40 minutes, this new route will become the longest direct flight British Airways offers. The London – Santiago route will be one hour longer than the current longest flight, which runs from London to Buenos Aires and is 13 hours and 50 minutes.

The flight will run four times a week and use British Airway’s newest aircraft, the 787-9 Dreamliner. The 787-9 is 20 ft. longer than the previous model allowing for a new First cabin making those long haul flights more enjoyable. The First cabin hosts a private eight-suite space with additional storage areas, a locker for small belongings, and a special storage area for devices that includes charging capability. In-flight entertainment is shown on a 23-inch fixed screen and a smart ‘jog-dial’ manages the seat recline, headrest, and lumbar inflate. A ‘global’ lighting control can be used to set both ambient and reading lighting. The new 787-9 Dreamliner is the most technologically advanced aircraft in the British Airways fleet.

The addition of this new route is part of an ongoing expansion to Latin America by British Airways. They recently added Lima, Peru and San Jose, Costa Rica to their list of destinations. Additionally, they offer service to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in Brazil. Of the increase in Latin American routes, Alex Cruz, Chairman and CEO of British Airways stated: “In recent years we have been increasing our services to South and Central America reflecting the area’s continued growth in both business and tourism. This year we’ve already launched flights to Costa Rica and Peru, and the addition of Santiago will secure another important link between the UK and the region. Equally, Chile is of enormous appeal to leisure travelers, especially those looking for adventure, exploration and experiences, thanks to its outstanding and diverse natural beauty and attractions and its great food and wine.”

Santiago, Chile offers many interesting attractions including the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Chilean Museum of Fine Arts. Santiago also serves as a gateway to many natural wonders in the surrounding countryside.

Airfare Prices Decreasing

Airfare Reaches Seven-Year Low

Summer Traveling Dreams Come True

Pining for paradise? That tropical getaway may be closer than you think. International flights to Cancun are averaging about $327. According to research by Hopper, a mobile application that uses big data to predict and analyze airfare, flight prices will be the cheapest they’ve been in seven years. This price decrease is especially good for domestic travelers. An average domestic round-trip flight will cost about $207. Prices will peak in June with an average domestic round-trip flight costing $240.

Airfare Decrease Continues

This price decrease seems to be an ongoing trend: airfare prices are down 12%; more than 20% from two years ago.  Earlier this year, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a decrease in air passenger fares for both international departures and arrivals.

Oil prices seem to be one main factor in airline ticket price drops.

If you’re not thinking of staying stateside for the summer, there could be hope for a cheap flight internationally.

Hopper produced several tables on which cities have seen increases and decreases in search demand, both domestically and internationally. Changes in search demand could create flash sales that will benefit travelers.

If you’re interested in how your state’s average airfare compares across the national average, be sure to check out Hopper’s interactive map.