United Kingdom flag carrier airline, British Airways (BA), has revealed plans to expand its flying network in Africa to Liberia capital of Monrovia this summer; bringing its number of routes to 16 on the continent and 19 from London.
While operating out of Heathrow’s Terminal 5, British Airways will run a Boeing 767 to Monrovia in a three-class cabin configuration – World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World.
Its schedule includes a three weekly service to Monrovia via Freetown in neighbouring Sierra Leone from November 5, reducing to two between December 10,2012 to February 4,2013 for operational reasons, and reverting to three thereafter.
Flights will depart Heathrow on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, returning on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
The airline launch to Liberia makes it the second increase in its African network in many months. BA had earlier announced double flights to Marrakech from three to six a week, taking over the bmi route to Agadir and starting three weekly frequencies to Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Recent adjustments to airline schedules include doubling frequencies from Cape Town from daily to 14 a week.
“We’ve been flying in Africa for over 80 years and the continent remains a key part of our global route network. We’ve really looked at where we can add value to our customers and are flying to the business and leisure destinations they’re demanding,” Ian Petrie, BA Regional Manager Africa, said.
There are currently no direct flights between the UK and Monrovia. Brussels Airlines offers three flights per week, two of which route via Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, and Air France flies twice-weekly from Paris via Conakry in Guinea.
British Airways once plied Liberia’s pre-war airspace and now it will soon join other airlines likes of Delta, Air France, and Brussels Airlines at Liberia’s Roberts International Airport.
Speaking on the new development, Liberia’s deputy Minister of Transport Ebenezer Kolliegbo affirmed that the decision of the airline to resume flights to Liberia demonstrates growing confidence of the leader international business community in the leadership of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
