British Airways (BA) is one of a select handful of airlines that operate all three variants from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family of widebody twinjets. According to ch-aviation, the carrier has 12 units of the smaller 787-8 in its fleet, as well as 18 mid-sized 787-9s and 12 larger 787-10s. For the latter of these models in particular, this summer is looking to be a busy one, with more flights planned than ever before.
Indeed, data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, shows that the third quarter of this year (July to September) will be BA’s busiest-ever quarter for 787-10 ops. All in all, the UK flag carrier and oneworld founding member is set to operate a grand total of 927 flights from its London Heathrow hub with the 787-10 this Q3, up 7.7% from the same period last year. But where will they fly?
British Airways will serve two African destinations with the 787-10 every day (92 flights in total) this Q3: Lagos in Nigeria retains its daily frequency from last year, while Nairobi in Kenya is a new addition for the type. Its remaining capacity with the 787-10 is concentrated in North America, with its top destinations with the type being Chicago, Newark, and Seattle.
This trio will see 91 flights apiece from Heathrow on the 787-10 this Q3, with Portland, New York-JFK, and Toronto not far behind at 88, 86, and 84 flights, respectively. Elsewhere, Houston will see 61 flights, followed by Dallas/Fort Worth on 39, New Orleans on 32, Montreal on seven, and Pittsburgh (on two). The type will also fly 71 times to Miami, where BA recently opened a new lounge. Then-Chief Customer Officer Calum Laming spoke about the lounge in a statement last October.
“Whether they’re looking to relax, dine, work or enjoy a drink at the fully staffed bar, there’s something for everyone.”
Aside from the obvious 7.7% year-on-year increase in BA’s flights and seat capacity for 787-10 ops in Q3 of this year compared to 2025, another notable statistic is that its capacity in available seat miles (ASMs) is even higher. Indeed, this figure sits at 10.5%, showing that, as well as operating more flights with the 787-10, BA is also using the type on longer routes.
The carrier’s capacity drop in the Middle East has been a key factor on this front. In Q3 of 2025, BA operated 787-10 flights to both Dubai (DXB) and Riyadh (RUH), with 58 flights from Heathrow to each destination. However, these were among its shortest routes with the type, with their distance being dwarfed by this year’s new additions of Nairobi, Miami, and Dallas/Fort Worth. As such, its capacity in ASMs has increased.
BA has also dropped two comparatively short routes from Heathrow to the US East Coast from its 787-10 roster: last Q3, it flew the type to Washington DC 13 times and Boston 22 times. Elsewhere, it no longer flies the 787-10 to Austin, although last Q3 it operated only three flights with the type anyway, and its daily service to Bridgetown has been replaced by the 777 and Airbus A350.
Discover the longest routes British Airways 787-10s will fly in 2026 and how the carrier uses this aircraft differently to its other Dreamliners.
As previously noted, BA’s 787-10s are a good fit for its US routes due to their relatively high amount of premium seating. According to aeroLOPA, these Dreamliners have a four-class layout, with the best seats in the house being the eight first class suites right at the front of the cabin. Marketed simply as ‘First’ by BA, these luxurious flatbeds are laid out four-abreast and offer the airline’s most opulent experience.
The jet’s 48 ‘Club World’ business class flatbeds are also laid out four abreast in a 1-2-1 setup, albeit with a little less space and opulence and at more of an angle than their First counterparts. Moving further back, premium economy comes in the form of 35 ‘World Traveller Plus’ recliners (in five seven-abreast rows with a 2-3-2 layout), while ‘World Traveller’ economy class has 165 seats in a 3-3-3 setup.
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