British Airways has announced that their direct flights to Tampa, Florida, will be moving from London Gatwick to London Heathrow. The current Gatwick service runs until 24 October 2026, with the new Heathrow route kicking off the very next day on 25 October 2026.
For UK travellers booked on a flight after 25 October 2026, British Airways will be in touch to let you know about the change.
Heathrow To Tampa Route Details
The route will be operated using the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, a considerably more modern aircraft with a more premium cabin configuration than the ageing Boeing 777-200 that is due to start being phased out from 2028-2029. However, the service will drop from daily flights to five times per week, so if you're flexible with your travel dates, it's worth checking availability sooner rather than later.
- London Heathrow > Tampa: BA211 - Departs 12:45pm, arrives 5:30pm
- Tampa > London Heathrow: BA210 - Departs 7:55pm, arrives 9:15am (+1 day)
- Operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Virgin Atlantic already operates this route and will no doubt be watching British Airways' arrival at Heathrow with great interest - the two will now be going head to head on the same route from the same airport. For us as passengers, that's generally good news, as competition tends to keep prices in check. Whether that actually translates to cheaper fares remains to be seen, but it can't hurt.
Is Flying To Tampa Cheaper Than MCO?
For Walt Disney World visitors, Orlando (MCO) is the obvious choice - it's right on the doorstep of Walt Disney World and well served from Heathrow. But if you're considering a Florida trip that takes in more than just the theme parks, it's worth comparing prices to Tampa. Right now, flights from London Heathrow to Orlando with the likes of Virgin Atlantic and British Airways start from around £380-£430 return.
Tampa, by comparison, currently has fewer airlines competing for your custom - which historically hasn't done wonders for keeping prices down. That said, with British Airways now joining Virgin Atlantic at Heathrow on the Tampa route, there's a reasonable chance fares will become more competitive over time. If you're planning a wider Florida holiday - perhaps combining a few days at Walt Disney World or the Universal parks with a visit to Busch Gardens Tampa or a Gulf Coast beach - it's worth checking both airports when you search, as the difference can sometimes be surprising. The short drive between Tampa and Orlando is around 85 miles, so depending on where you're staying, Tampa airport isn't as inconvenient as it might first appear on a map.
How To Find The Cheapest Florida Flights
Our best advice is to use a flight comparison website to find the cheapest prices and easily compare your options across both Tampa and Orlando.
