British Airways Confirms The Airbus A380 Will Return To Dallas/Fort Worth

In the schedule update over the weekend, British Airways confirmed that the Airbus A380 will return to Dallas/Fort Worth in May 2026. The double-decker quadjet was last used to the Texas hub, where joint venture partner American Airlines has 84% of the flights, in March 2025.

Having returned in August 2025, Qantas will continue to use its A380s to Dallas/Fort Worth through next year. As such, BA’s development means that the oneworld hub will have two superjumbo operators for the first time since Emirates stopped using the type there in 2016.

BA’s A380s Will Return To Dallas In May 2026

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Some context is needed. In March 2025, BA ceased all services from Heathrow, the world’s top airport for long-haul flights, to Dallas. Consequently, very close partner American increased its own frequency from four to five times daily. BA will return on October 26, 2025, which is when northern carriers switch to winter schedules based on IATA slot seasons. As such, American’s frequency will drop back to four daily.

BA will fly the 331-seat A350-1000 through winter 2025/2026, although this aircraft does not have first class. It’ll switch to the 256-seat, first-class-equipped 787-10 on March 28, 2026, day one of the northern summer season. The 787 replaces the 777-200ER, which was previously down to operate.

In the latest development, the 469-seat A380 will be used from May 21. Given the type’s huge capacity, there’s no denying that its return is meaningful. It’ll provide nearly twice the capacity per flight, including far more premium seats. However, whether it is good news product-wise depends on whether the frames that it will use have been retrofitted with the latest cabins. This was due to begin in the second half of 2025, but, if they haven’t been upgraded, they’ll provide a noticeably lower-quality product.

BA & American’s Heathrow-Dallas Operations From Next May

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It is not just the return of BA’s superjumbos that is notable. From October 26, 2025, American will begin using the 244-seat, low-capacity, high-premium 787-9 on the route. It’ll continue to be flown through 2026. Until early 2025, the oneworld member deployed its higher-capacity, less-premium, 285-seat Dreamliner.

This new configuration’s 244-seat layout comprises 51 Flagship Suites with a privacy door (1-2-1), 32 recliners in its refurbished premium economy cabin (2-3-2; 38″ pitch), 18 seats in Main Cabin Extra (3-3-3; 34″), and 143 seats in Main Cabin (3-3-3; 31″).

A Look At BA To Dallas

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BA pulled out of Dallas in March 2025. In the period from April 2024, the A380 and 777-300ER were flown. According to the US Department of Transportation data, BA carried 244,000 round-trip passengers. It filled 84% of the available seats. American’s much higher frequencies mean that it transported 649,000 passengers, but only filled 82% of the seats.

Booking data suggests that approximately 40% of BA’s passengers connected to another flight in Heathrow, with Dallas-Hyderabad being the most popular market. Some 22% were local (they only flew between the two airports), while 21% transited to another flight at both hubs (Austin-Hyderabad was number one). Finally, 17% of passengers connected to an American flight in Dallas (Heathrow-Austin was first, despite BA’s own nonstop service to the Texas capital).