A new route to Tanzania, non-stop flights to Buenos Aires and more choice for the Caribbean: British Airways’ summer 2027 announcement brings fresh possibilities for your next holiday. Changes begin on 28 March, followed by the launch of flights to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar on 29 May.
For you, that could mean combining a safari with time beside the Indian Ocean, exploring Argentina without an intermediate stop on your flight from London, or finding departure dates that better fit your plans. At The Ultimate Travel Company, our specialists can bring those possibilities together, arranging the flights, places to stay and experiences around your interests, time and budget.
Below, we explain what is changing and share a few journeys to spark ideas. Every holiday we create is tailor-made, so anything that catches your eye can become the beginning of a conversation about your own.
“Perhaps you’ve been thinking about a safari for years, or wondering how to bring a few different places together in one holiday. These new flight options are a good reason to start that conversation. Tell us what you have in mind, even if it’s only a loose idea, and we’ll work through the possibilities with you. That’s the pleasure of tailor-made travel: we can build the whole journey around what matters to you.”
Hamish Van Gruisen | Director at The Ultimate Travel Company
Tanzania: combine safari with Zanzibar
From 29 May 2027, you will be able to fly with British Airways from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro and onwards to Zanzibar. Departures will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays until 31 October, with economy, premium economy and business class available.
Arriving through Kilimanjaro puts Tanzania’s northern safari circuit within reach. You could explore Tarangire, the Ngorongoro region and the Serengeti before flying onwards to Zanzibar for time beside the Indian Ocean.
Our Ultimate Tanzania journey shows one way to bring these places together. We can recommend camps to suit your travel style, plan the time at each stop and arrange the connections through to your beach stay. For a family, that might mean fewer moves and longer in each camp; for a wildlife enthusiast, more time devoted to a particular area.
For a safari and beach holiday, we can arrange your arrival into Kilimanjaro, the separate transfer or domestic flight arrangements between your chosen camps and Zanzibar, and your flight home from the island. If you are travelling just to Zanzibar, the outbound flight stops at Kilimanjaro; the return to Gatwick is non-stop.
Argentina and Chile: arrive in Buenos Aires without an intermediate stop
From 28 March 2027, British Airways will fly non-stop from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires every day, with the service continuing to Santiago in Chile.
The non-stop arrival makes BA a more straightforward option for reaching Argentina. Spend time in Buenos Aires before travelling further afield, with your route built around the experiences you want most.
Our Wild Argentina journey includes Iguassu Falls, the Iberá wetlands and Patagonia. It demonstrates the range of landscapes and wildlife experiences we can draw on when designing your holiday, whether you want an extensive journey or time to explore fewer regions in greater depth.
For a holiday including Chile, take inspiration from Ultimate Chile. Our specialists can advise on combining the countries, selecting regions that suit your dates and arranging the travel between them. The airline’s summer timetable includes the southern hemisphere’s winter, making seasonal advice particularly valuable.
Brazil: bring Rio, waterfalls and the coast into one journey
British Airways’ daily flights from London Heathrow to Rio de Janeiro will no longer continue to Buenos Aires, making more seats available for travellers heading to Brazil.
Our Simply Brazil journey brings together Rio, Iguassu Falls, Paraty and Búzios. It is an example of how city life, natural scenery and time on the coast can fit into one holiday.
We can arrange the domestic flights, transfers and accommodation that connect your chosen stops, and help you decide where a guide would add most to the experience. Extend your time in Rio, spend longer in Paraty or make the beach a larger part of the holiday. The final itinerary will reflect how you want to spend your time.
Costa Rica: plan around the dates you can travel
British Airways is extending its London Heathrow–San José service to operate year-round, giving you three departures a week.
For travellers working around school holidays or fixed leave, this extends the months in which a BA flight is an option. Our role is to match those dates to a route that works, taking regional conditions and your interests into account.
Use our Classic Costa Rica journey to start exploring the possibilities. Tell us whether wildlife, forest walks, activities or time on the coast matter most, and we can recommend how to divide your stay. We will also explain the travel involved between locations, so you know what to expect before booking.
South Africa: fit Cape Town into a wider holiday
From 28 March 2027, British Airways will offer ten flights a week from London Heathrow to Cape Town, up from seven.
The additional departures give us more options when coordinating your international flights with the rest of your holiday. Our Scenic Cape and Ultimate South Africa journeys offer inspiration for different ways to explore.
We can help you decide whether to concentrate on the Cape or include other regions, then arrange the accommodation and transport around that choice. As the UK summer falls during South Africa’s winter, we will recommend experiences and locations that suit your travel dates.
The Caribbean: choose the setting that suits you
British Airways will fly daily from London Gatwick to Barbados throughout the year, extending your choice of departures beyond the winter season. Onward flights to Grenada, Guyana and Tobago will operate via Barbados. St Lucia will have four weekly Gatwick flights, with its previous onward services moving to Barbados.
For a family gathering, a honeymoon or a longer beach holiday, our specialists can help you compare accommodation, room arrangements and locations. Explore our Barbados and St Lucia collections, then speak to us about the type of stay you have in mind. We can arrange your flights and transfers alongside your accommodation.
Further possibilities in the USA, Sri Lanka and Australia
British Airways will increase its London Heathrow–Las Vegas service to fourteen flights a week. The announcement also highlights previously confirmed services to Colombo from Gatwick on 23 October 2026 and Melbourne from Heathrow via Kuala Lumpur on 9 January 2027.
We can include Las Vegas in a wider American Southwest journey, help you develop ideas from our Simply Sri Lanka itinerary, or plan an Australian holiday incorporating Melbourne. Bring us your preferred destinations and available time, and we will advise on a workable route.
Plan your holiday with The Ultimate Travel Company
To begin, share your preferred dates, who is travelling, an approximate budget and any experiences you would particularly like to include. Your specialist will use those details to develop a personal itinerary and quotation, bringing the arrangements together for you.
Alongside our personal service comes the reassurance of financial protection. Our flight-inclusive tailor-made packages are ATOL protected. If you’ve already arranged your own flights, we can build your holiday around them, with the non-flight package you book through us covered by our ABTA bond.
Speak to a Travel Specialists
More inspiration, delivered to your doorstep
If you would like time to browse before deciding, request a copy of Ultimate Horizons, our travel coffee table book. Across five chapters, it brings together ideas, stories and experiences to help you imagine your next journey. Keep it close, mark the pages that catch your attention and share your favourites with us when you are ready to plan.
Request your copy of Ultimate Horizons and have it delivered directly to your door.
Printed copies are available for delivery to UK addresses. If you live outside the UK, a digital edition is available for you to enjoy wherever you are.
Request your complimentary copyFlight details reflect the announcement of 17 September 2026 and are subject to airline schedule changes.
Image credits: Hero image courtesy of British Airways. Additional imagery courtesy of the featured hotels and resorts, Wahyu Kelsall for &Beyond Game Drive and photographers on Unsplash.