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Oct 26, 2009



British Airways Brings Non-Stop Service to Las Vegas



New partnership opens first service to London Heathrow


LAS VEGAS - Another British invasion touched down in Las Vegas on Sunday, October 25, with the arrival of the inaugural flight for British Airways.  The new daily, non-stop service is from London's Heathrow Airport to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. 
  
"This new partnership provides more access for the world to experience Las Vegas" said Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, chairman of the board of directors for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).  "The strength of the two brands makes it an ideal partnership.  The investment by British Airways to incorporate Las Vegas into their strategic business plan during a global recession demonstrates the strength of our brand."   
  
Mayor Goodman joined LVCVA President/CEO Rossi Ralenkotter and British Airways CEO Willie Walsh aboard the inaugural flight. 
  
"Despite the recession, we continue to invest in new products and services for our customers.  We see real opportunities for growth in Las Vegas," Walsh said.  "I don't gamble as a rule, but I am confident we are on to a winner.  We are the only U.K. airline offering non-stop service from Heathrow to Las Vegas, and our network offers fantastic connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia." 
  
McCarran officials work jointly with the LVCVA to cultivate relationships with airlines and expand existing service or bring new service to Las Vegas.  There are nearly 170 non-stop international flights a week to Las Vegas.    
  
"The arrival of a new international carrier with an expansive network that feeds into Heathrow will only enhance travelers' ability to reach Las Vegas from various points in Europe and beyond," said Randall H. Walker, Director of Aviation for Clark County, Nevada.  "We're constantly striving to make it easier for travelers to come to McCarran International, and we are very pleased to welcome British Airways to this airport." 
  
The United Kingdom is the No. 1 source of overseas travelers to Las Vegas, generating nearly 400,000 visitors in 2008.  It represents approximately 10 percent of all international travel to Las Vegas.  The flight is estimated to provide an economic impact to Las Vegas of $260,000 per flight or $96 million annually. 
  
The new flights will be operated exclusively to and from Heathrow's Terminal 5 by a three-class Boeing 777.  Heathrow's Terminal 5 is dedicated to British Airways and serves as the airline's primary regional hub for feeder flights originating in 45 European cities.  The flight will depart daily from Heathrow at 3:35 p.m., arriving in Las Vegas at 7:20 p.m. local time.  The return flight departs Las Vegas nightly at 9:20 p.m. and arrives in London the following day at 2:05 p.m.  

Photos and video of the inaugural flight are available in the Media Center.



ABOUT THE LVCVA
The  Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With approximately 140,500 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 9.8 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever-increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area.  For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.VisitLasVegas.com.