British Airways has announced plans for non-stop flights between South Carolina and the United Kingdom.
A press release from Henry McMaster Office of the Governor says British Airways announced plans for non-stop air service between London’s Heathrow Airport and the Charleston International Airport on Thursday. The flights are scheduled to begin in April 2019 and mark “the first direct trans-Atlantic flight from the state of South Carolina.”
The flights will operate on Thursdays and Sundays, according to the release. Outbound flights will depart from Charleston at 10:50 p.m. and arrive in London the next morning around 11:50 a.m. Return flights will leave “London around 5:20 p.m. and arrive in Charleston around 9:20 p.m.”
“Officials estimate the economic impact generated by new job creation and activity associated with the new flights could exceed $20 million annually in tourism. From an industry recruitment perspective, South Carolina already provides excellent access to major business points all over the country,” states the release. “Now, with these new flights, the state will offer connectivity to Western Europe, enhancing the marketability of South Carolina as a top destination for international business. In a unique nod to South Carolina’s local manufacturing community, British Airways will utilize a North Charleston-built Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 for the new air service.”
The S.C. Department of Commerce has committed about $1.3 million for the air service’s first season to help with the costs of the project, according to the release.
“These flights will make South Carolina an even more viable candidate for economic development, giving us additional tools to compete in the global economy,” Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said.
“The British Airways announcement is monumental for the Palmetto State. This will be great for travelers and will serve as a catalyst for new economic development opportunities as international companies look at where to locate,” said S.C. Chamber President and CEO Ted Pitts.
