GATWICK TAKES A BITE OUT OF THE BIG APPLE
 
British Airways customers flying from Gatwick will soon be able to wing their way directly to the U.S. East Coast when the airline starts direct flights to New York next year.
 
From May 1 British Airways will fly customers in style from less than £400 return, to the city that never sleeps. Customers will travel on a three-cabin Boeing 777, offering a choice of 40 seats in Club World, 24 in World Traveller Plus and 216 in World Traveller.
 
It will make British Airways the only airline to offer flights to New York from all three of London's main airports; Gatwick, Heathrow and London City.
 
Lynne Embleton, British Airways' managing director at Gatwick said: "The new route from Gatwick to New York's JFK airport will enable us to offer access to a third London airport, giving our customers maximum choice and flexibility.
 
"New York is British Airways' flagship Atlantic route and will always be one of the most popular destinations for holidaymakers and business travellers alike. The flight will offer fantastic connections to our extensive network of short-haul flights to 112 destinations across Europe.
 
"The new route also complements our almost hourly service from Heathrow, thanks to our transatlantic Joint Business with American Airlines. Customers can choose from 13 daily British Airways flights and another three on American Airlines to New York, as well as our double-daily business class only service from London City."
 
Daily flights on the BA2273 will depart from Gatwick at 16:40 to make the Atlantic crossing, arriving into New York's JFK airport at 19:30. The returning BA2272 will depart JFK at 20:00 and land back at Gatwick at 10:10 the next day.
 
Customers on board the new transatlantic service can enjoy fully-flat seats in Club World, fine dining, complimentary drinks and a generous baggage allowance.
 
Prices will start from £390 return in World Traveller, £893 in World Traveller Plus and £1,574 in Club World, including all taxes and charges.
 
The new daily New York service is just the latest in a range of new holiday-friendly routes started and available this year from Gatwick by British Airways, including flights to Cagliari, Madeira, Seville, Sharm El Sheikh and Vienna.
 
Travellers to South America from Gatwick get a new route to Costa Rica when British Airways starts twice-weekly non-stop flights to the country's capital, San Jose, on April 27, 2016.
 
And the only direct flights between Lima in Peru and Gatwick, start on May 4, 2016, with a three times a week service.
 
There are also two new short-haul routes set to start to the Iberian Peninsula; Valencia in Spain and Porto in Portugal. The four times a week service to Valencia, Spain's third biggest city, and British Airway's 15th Spanish destination, starts next month on November 6. The four times a week service to Porto takes off early next year on February 1, 2016.
 
British Airways packages to New York from Gatwick include:
• British Airways offers three nights at the 3* Hilton Garden Inn New York Tribeca, from £599 per person, travelling May 1 - May 31. Includes World Traveller return flights from London Gatwick and accommodation. Book by November 30. For reservations visit ba.com/New York
• British Airways offers three nights at the 5* Waldorf Astoria New York, from £749 per person, travelling May 1 - May 31. Includes World Traveller return flights from London Gatwick and accommodation. Book by November 30. For reservations visit ba.com/New York