British Airways Cuts Four Short-Haul Routes From London
ID 96287717 | Airport © Gerold Grotelueschen | Dreamstime.com
BA will drop four European services at the IATA season switch. Three end at Heathrow (LHR) and one at London City (LCY):
| Route | Last day | Typical operation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCY–FRA (Frankfurt) | Mar 27 | BA CityFlyer E190, ~15x weekly | Air Dolomiti operates ~16x weekly |
| LHR–RIX (Riga) | Mar 27 | A320 family, 3–4x weekly | No nonstop competitor from Heathrow |
| LHR–CGN (Cologne/Bonn) | Mar 28 | A319/A320, daily | Eurowings ~14x weekly |
| LHR–STR (Stuttgart) | Mar 28 | A319/A320, ~14x weekly | Eurowings ~18x weekly |
All four links are no longer bookable beyond late March.
Why these markets?
Riga (RIX): BA carried ~46,000 round-trip passengers in Jan–Aug 2025 against ~64,800 seats, a load factor near 70%—soft for Heathrow. About 40% of BA travelers were connecting, pressuring yields. Meanwhile, London–Riga is well covered indirectly (Ryanair from STN, airBaltic from LGW, plus a seasonal Norwegian LGW service in 2025).
Cologne (CGN): Reintroduced in 2023, but sits in the shadow of nearby Düsseldorf (DUS), where BA has built dominance (33x weekly in mid-November) and can consolidate demand—even if airport charges are higher at DUS.
Stuttgart (STR): Despite a sizable local market (~250,000 round-trip passengers last year) and a deep corporate base (Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, etc.), costs and yields have long been challenging in Germany. Low-fare leakage to Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (FKB)—served by Ryanair from STN and ~68 miles from Stuttgart—doesn’t help. With BA out, Eurowings becomes the lone LON–STR nonstop operator.
LCY–Frankfurt (FRA): CityFlyer’s E190 link bows out while Air Dolomiti maintains up to ~16x weekly. The niche LCY business market has shifted, and frequency/capacity from other London airports undercuts the case for keeping both sides of the day strong at LCY.
What BA might do with the capacity
BA hasn’t disclosed where these aircraft/slots will be redeployed. While Heathrow–St. Louis begins next year, the timing doesn’t line up neatly with these specific removals. Expect reallocations toward higher-yield or better-performing short-haul flying and selective long-haul.
Alternatives for travelers
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Riga: Look at Ryanair (STN–RIX) or airBaltic (LGW–RIX); Norwegian operated LGW–RIX seasonally in 2025.
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Cologne vs. Düsseldorf: If you preferred CGN, consider DUS for broader schedules (including BA’s).
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Stuttgart: Eurowings (LHR–STR) remains; budget-minded travelers may consider STN–FKB (Ryanair) plus ground transfer.
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Frankfurt from LCY: Air Dolomiti continues at LCY; other London airports offer multiple FRA options if schedule flexibility permits.
Airport & aircraft quick reference
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Airports: LHR (Heathrow), LCY (London City), FRA (Frankfurt), RIX (Riga), CGN (Cologne/Bonn), STR (Stuttgart), DUS (Düsseldorf), FKB (Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden), LGW (Gatwick), STN (Stansted).
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Types used by BA on the affected routes: Airbus A319/A320 (Heathrow services), Embraer 190 (CityFlyer at LCY).
Bottom Line
BA is pruning LCY–FRA and three Heathrow spokes—Riga, Cologne, Stuttgart—at the March 2026 season change. The moves reflect weak loads/yields (notably to Riga), overlap with stronger Düsseldorf presence, and Germany’s tougher unit-revenue math. Capacity will likely be steered to better-performing markets, while travelers still have solid alternatives across other London airports.
