European Airline Expands to Africa’s Safari Heartland and Its Most Iconic Landscapes

British Airways is expanding its international network ahead of summer 2027, with two new destinations in Tanzania and increased frequencies to key destinations around the world. From 29 May 2027, the airline will operate three weekly flights from London Gatwick Airport to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.

The flights will operate on a three-way route: the aircraft will take off from London, land at Kilimanjaro Airport, continue to Zanzibar and return to London. The route will operate until October 31, 2027, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using a Boeing 777 aircraft and in three classes: Business, Premium Economy and Economy. Flight prices will start at £849 return.

Kilimanjaro serves as the gateway to Tanzania's northern safari region, which includes the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire game reserves. The area attracts tourists, especially during the Great Migration. The airport is also a starting point for climbers climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.

Kilimanjaro. Photo: British Airways

Zanzibar, on the other hand, offers a combination of white beaches, diving sites, coral reefs, spice plantations and the historic city of Stone Town, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Expansion Reaches Latin America

At the same time, British Airways is announcing a 25% increase in its capacity to South and Central America next summer. The route from London to Buenos Aires will become daily (non-stop), with a connection to Santiago, Chile. In Rio de Janeiro, the company will increase capacity by making the service a dedicated route without a connection to Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: Shutterstock

Other changes include making the London to San Jose, Costa Rica route a year-round service, increasing the frequency of flights to Cape Town from 7 to 10 per week and to Las Vegas from 13 to 14 weekly flights. The Gatwick to Barbados route will also continue to operate in the summer of 2027.

The move joins two other long-term destinations that the company has already announced: Colombo, Sri Lanka from October 2026 and Melbourne, via Kuala Lumpur, starting in January 2027.