(LONDON) London Gatwick is set to lose nearly a third of its direct links to the United States as airlines pull back from secondary London airports and concentrate long‑haul flying at primary hubs. As of September 1, 2025, Gatwick’s US flights have been cut by about 32% versus previous years, while Edinburgh Airport has grown its transatlantic program so much that, by several measures, it now offers more US connections than Gatwick. The change reflects network shifts by British Airways, Delta Air Lines, and others, and a clear swing in demand toward hub airports and strong regional performers.
British Airways will discontinue its Gatwick–Las Vegas service after October 25, 2025, and will not bring it back in March 2026 as once planned. The airline is consolidating long‑haul US routes at Heathrow, where it aims to concentrate capacity and deploy newer aircraft. A BA spokesperson said, “Customers prefer to fly from Heathrow when travelling to New York, which is why all nine of our daily JFK services will operate from there in summer 2026.”
Delta is expected to drop New York JFK–Gatwick after September 7, 2025, with no 2026 return planned, according to industry schedules. Norse Atlantic remains on the JFK–Gatwick route for now, but its long‑term intentions are uncertain.
Industry data show these moves among several carriers amount to a 32% reduction in Gatwick’s US flight capacity, confirming what many travelers in southern England have experienced this year: fewer nonstop options from London Gatwick and more re‑routing through Heathrow or via European hubs. While Gatwick has long been the UK’s secondary transatlantic gateway after Heathrow, favored by leisure and low‑cost operators, the post‑pandemic pattern has tilted toward consolidation where carriers see stronger yields and better connections.
Cuts at Gatwick reshape the transatlantic map
The largest single hit comes from the end of British Airways’ Las Vegas operation from Gatwick. That route alone removed hundreds of weekly seats and a marquee leisure destination. Delta’s pullback from JFK–Gatwick compounds the change, thinning out nonstop choices to the United States from south London.
Norse Atlantic, which has served Gatwick with long‑haul leisure service, has also scaled back elsewhere, including its Las Vegas–Gatwick service ending by 2026. For travelers in the Gatwick catchment—Sussex, Surrey, Kent, and parts of south London—this means longer journeys to Heathrow for many US flights, or more connections through Dublin, Amsterdam, or Paris.
Airline executives say the pivot is about matching aircraft to demand and streamlining operations. Concentrating US flights at Heathrow gives British Airways and joint‑venture partners stronger banked connections and higher premium revenue. Delta’s move follows similar logic across the Atlantic joint venture with Virgin Atlantic and Air France‑KLM. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, airlines are prioritizing airports where they can:
- Run dense schedules
- Secure higher cabin yields
- Keep operations predictable during peak summer and winter weather
The UK Civil Aviation Authority reports “significant growth” across UK aviation this year, including improved punctuality with 75% of flights on time in H1 2025. Yet that broad recovery masks diverging paths for individual airports.
With US flights consolidating at Heathrow, Gatwick’s transatlantic footprint has thinned even as its short‑haul European network remains robust. Part of Gatwick’s long‑term response may hinge on infrastructure: the Transport Secretary’s “minded to approve” decision on Gatwick’s runway project, announced in February 2025, could unlock extra capacity later this decade. A final decision is due in October 2025, but any benefits would not arrive before at least 2029.
Practical tips for Gatwick travelers
In the near term, travelers booking from London Gatwick to the United States should expect fewer nonstops and more mixed‑itinerary tickets. Practical tips include:
- Check Heathrow alternatives early, as popular US flights sell out fast in school holidays.
- Consider airlines’ partner networks; a Heathrow departure may allow a return to Gatwick via a European hub if needed.
- Factor in travel time to Heathrow versus Gatwick, especially for early departures or late arrivals.
Important: Expect longer journeys to the airport or additional connections for many US routes previously served nonstop from Gatwick.
Edinburgh’s rise and what it means for travelers
While London Gatwick retrenches, Edinburgh Airport is expanding. The Scottish hub handled a record 15.8 million passengers in 2024, with further growth anticipated this year. In 2025, Edinburgh is adding 15 new routes, and long‑haul traffic is up roughly 50% versus 2019.
On the transatlantic side, the airport now boasts the largest number of US destinations of any UK airport outside London, with multiple carriers growing capacity.
Key developments at Edinburgh:
- United Airlines
- Taking Edinburgh–Washington DC service to nearly year‑round: October 26, 2025 to January 5, 2026 (five times weekly).
- Returns to daily service from March 29, 2026.
- That change lifts United’s seat capacity from Edinburgh by almost 10%.
- Already operates daily year‑round to New York/Newark (doubling to twice daily in peak summer) and a daily seasonal service to Chicago O’Hare.
- Delta
- Will fly from Edinburgh to New York JFK starting March, Atlanta from April, and Boston from May.
- Boston will run daily, with extra weekly frequencies from Atlanta.
- JetBlue
- Adds a new daily Boston route from May 22, 2025, and continues New York JFK, adding nearly 5,000 seats per month each way.
- Air Canada and WestJet
- Connect Edinburgh to Toronto, Calgary, and Halifax, strengthening links to both the United States and Canada.
Edinburgh Airport CEO Gordon Dewar summed up the momentum: “Taking this service to almost year-round shows the clear demand for direct connections between Scotland and the USA, and with three routes from Edinburgh Airport, it’s also a huge show of confidence in the airport as United’s base in Scotland.”
Benefits for Scottish travelers and the wider UK
For Scottish travelers, the practical effects are immediate:
- More nonstops to New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Boston, and Atlanta, reducing the need to connect via London or continental hubs.
- Shorter total journey times and fewer missed connections during weather events.
- Greater convenience for families, students, and business travelers heading to US cities with strong Scottish diaspora links.
For visitors to Scotland, direct access to Edinburgh and the wider region supports tourism and trade. When a regional airport like Edinburgh can support multiple daily transatlantic departures, airlines can right‑size aircraft and time schedules to local demand rather than pushing everyone through a single mega‑hub. That also spreads economic benefits across the UK.
Edinburgh’s growing role aligns with carriers’ fuel‑saving and fleet strategies as newer narrow‑body long‑range aircraft become more common. At the same time, consolidating at Heathrow for London‑area travelers gives carriers a single, large base to deploy premium cabins and capture business traffic.
Outlook and choices for travelers
Back in the South East, Gatwick’s future US flights will depend on whether Norse Atlantic keeps its JFK service and whether leisure demand can sustain seasonal routes without the heft of big joint ventures. The near‑term forecast suggests tight choices for travelers seeking nonstops to the US from Gatwick, with most turning to Heathrow for Las Vegas, New York, Miami, and beyond.
Travel agencies are already adjusting search defaults:
- Passengers leaving from Sussex or Kent are offered Heathrow departures more often than before.
- Scottish and northern England customers see Edinburgh options first for eastern US gateways.
For families planning summer holidays, the message is to book early and be flexible with dates. For small businesses seeking direct links for trade shows or client visits, Edinburgh’s schedule depth could be a new competitive advantage.
Stakeholders across government and aviation say these patterns reflect a broader recovery. Regulators highlight record passenger volumes and improved timekeeping. The UK Civil Aviation Authority continues to publish performance updates as airports work through summer peaks.
Airport leaders in Scotland stress the economic benefits of easier US access for:
- Tourism
- Exports (for example, whisky and technology services)
- University exchange programs
Environmental groups and local communities remain watchful, raising questions about noise and emissions as traffic grows.
Final takeaway
The pandemic’s shock to transatlantic travel has given way to a rebound, but recovery looks different by airport:
- Edinburgh is outpacing Gatwick in US route growth thanks to active route development and strong US‑Scotland demand.
- Gatwick, once a magnet for long‑haul low‑cost entries, faces a tougher market as full‑service carriers concentrate at Heathrow and some leisure players trim exposure on thin routes.
If Gatwick’s runway expansion wins approval in October 2025, long‑haul ambitions could rise again, though any new capacity would take years to come online (not before 2029). Carriers will continue to fine‑tune schedules into 2026.
Watch for updates after the October 2025 runway decision at Gatwick and as airlines finalize summer 2026 plans. For now, the center of gravity for many London‑area US trips sits at Heathrow, while Edinburgh’s direct links give Scotland more control over its transatlantic future.
This Article in a Nutshell
London Gatwick has seen a roughly 32% reduction in US flight capacity as carriers pull long‑haul services into Heathrow, motivated by higher yields, denser schedules and stronger banked connections. British Airways will end its Gatwick–Las Vegas route after October 25, 2025, and Delta plans to stop JFK–Gatwick after September 7, 2025, while Norse Atlantic’s future at Gatwick remains unclear. Travelers in southern England face more journeys to Heathrow or connections through European hubs. By contrast, Edinburgh Airport is expanding rapidly—handling 15.8 million passengers in 2024, adding 15 routes in 2025, and growing long‑haul traffic about 50% versus 2019—with major carriers adding services to New York, Washington, Boston and Toronto. Gatwick’s long‑haul outlook could improve if a runway expansion receives final approval in October 2025, though benefits would not arrive before 2029. Overall, Heathrow is becoming the primary London base for US travel while Edinburgh strengthens its transatlantic role.
