British Airways begins Austin’s first Euro flight

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - British Airways is launching the first scheduled, non-stop flight from Austin to Europe.

The first flight from London’s Heathrow Airport was scheduled to land Monday afternoon. The return flight to London leaves a few hours later.

Flights to Mexico have long departed from Austin’s Bergstrom International Airport and international chartered flights have landed here. But this is the first regular non-stop service to Europe. Houston, Dallas and San Antonio also offer flights to Europe.

British Airways will use one of its newest jets on the route, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and the plane uses the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow. Initially the airline is offering five flights a week, but will expand to seven days a week in May.

The flights begin just in time for South by Southwest.