British Airways to deploy Boeing 787-10s at London Gatwick replacing ageing 777-200 fleet
March 1, 2026
British Airways has shared that it will be deploying its initial Boeing 787-10 aircraft at London Gatwick from 2029, replacing its ageing Boeing 777-200 fleet that currently operates its long-haul leisure network from the airport. The news came following the release of the carrier’s financial performance figures for 2025.
Parent company International Airlines Group announced the results on Friday. The group – which owns British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus among others – improved its performance by quite a margin. It announced that revenue had grown by 2.5% to €33 million and its all-important operating margin rose by 1.3 points to 15.1%.
British Airways brings the Boeing 787-10 to London Gatwick
In a statement on Friday, British Airways CEO Sean Doyle announced that part of the airline’s order for 32 Boeing 787-10 aircraft that it disclosed last year would go to London Gatwick.
“I’m delighted to share the first of these brand-new aircraft will be delivered to Gatwick in 2029, starting the replacement of our existing 777-200 fleet,” Doyle said. “These new aircraft, featuring crew bunks, will help us continue improving the onboard experience for both customers and colleagues, while supporting the continued growth of our network.”
The rest areas will likely come as a positive development for crew. The airline’s initial 787-10 aircraft do not feature them.
It is not immediately clear how many Boeing 787 aircraft will be deployed at Gatwick, nor what the timeline looks like for their full rollout. The retirement of the Boeing 777-200 aircraft is expected: the aircraft average of the 43-strong fleet is 26 years according to planespotters.net.
Not all of these aircraft are currently used from Gatwick – in fact, the majority fly from Heathrow. Information from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that the airline operates to 13 destinations from Gatwick this month, all of which are lower-yielding leisure flights. This includes Caribbean destinations like Antigua and Cancun, or other holiday hotspots like Orlando and Mauritius.
It also serves Accra and Islamabad, which primarily cater to Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) traffic.
What opportunities might the 787-10 present for British Airways at Gatwick Airport?
It is understood that around 12 aircraft are typically based at Gatwick. Some suggest that the carrier is planning to increase the number of based aircraft with the introduction of the 787-10, deploying 17 aircraft instead. This would facilitate frequency and network growth.
British Airways bringing in the new 787-10 to London Gatwick is amazing news. I have been hearing they will be basing around 17 with first aircraft being delivered around 2028. Incredible news.
— UK Airport Updates 24/7 (@ukairport24) February 27, 2026
The planes are not expected to have a First Class cabin, contrary to its existing 787-10 fleet based out of London Heathrow. The markets the planes serve are quite different: London Heathrow’s focus on higher-yielding business traffic warrants more premium-heavy capacity.
However, premium economy remains popular from both London airports. So-called “premium leisure” demand has come into focus in recent months, driving post-pandemic recovery for airlines in light of weaker demand from the United States.
The additional capacity at London Gatwick is interesting for two key reasons. Firstly, by leveraging its position at London’s secondary airport, British Airways is alleviating pressure from its heavily slot-constrained Heathrow hub. With relatively more available space at London Gatwick, the company can better utilise its upcoming aircraft deliveries.
Secondly, London Gatwick expansion might also encourage British Airways’ partner airlines to see the airport in a new light. Rather than focusing on London-originating demand, more British Airways (and by extension oneworld) services from Gatwick might open the door to (more) connecting traffic.
Featured image: robin | stock.adobe.com
