OREANDA-NEWS. Denver International Airport (DIA) is pleased to announce British Airways will increase its capacity by 23 percent beginning March 2015 on its daily nonstop route between Denver and London Heathrow Airports. Currently, British Airways operates a Boeing 777-200 aircraft and to accommodate this capacity increase, the airline will operate a Boeing 747-400, which will have a total of 337 seats. British Airways will be introducing first class service into the Denver market in addition to Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller.

The British Airways service has supported 1,300 jobs annually, generated USD 694 million in wages and a total economic impact of more than USD 2.2 billion to the state's economy since service began on Sept. 1, 1998 between Denver and Gatwick Airport, according to DIA's analysis. This route was DIA's first daily, year-round transatlantic flight since DIA opened in 1995. In 2002, services switched from Gatwick Airport to London Heathrow Airport.

"British Airways has demonstrated their commitment to the Denver market for more than 15 years," said Mayor Michael B. Hancock. "This capacity increase will provide more access not only to London, but to markets across the world, further strengthening Denver's global reach."

Nearly 2.5 million passengers have traveled on this flight between September 1998 and August 2014.

"British Airways, in a response to our strong market and in character with their great partnership of the last 15 years, continues to invest in Denver and Colorado," said Denver International Airport CEO Kim Day. "London ranks as Denver's largest market in Europe and BA's hub at Heathrow is a key component of our global connectivity."