TL;DR
- British Airways announced two new routes from Heathrow on 27 November: Tivat (Montenegro) and Guernsey.
- Tivat launches 14 May 2026, flying 3x weekly through September. Return fares start from £172.
- Guernsey launches 19 April 2026 with daily, year-round flights. Return fares start from £101.
- Both routes are available to book now, with early bird pricing live.
Last week, British Airways confirmed two additions to its Heathrow schedule for summer 2026. The first takes travellers to Tivat, a coastal town on Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor. The second connects London with Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
Both routes operate from Terminal 5 and offer Euro Traveller and Club Europe cabins.
For agents, this opens up two quite different destination conversations: one centred on the Adriatic coastline and emerging Mediterranean appeal, the other on convenient island escapes with strong onward connections.
The Montenegro Route: Tivat
Flights to Tivat begin on 14 May 2026 and run three times weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) through to 26 September 2026. The flight time is around three hours, and return fares start from £172.
Tivat sits on the Bay of Kotor, sometimes described as Europe’s southernmost fjord. The town has grown over the past decade into a marina destination, with Porto Montenegro anchoring the waterfront. Think superyachts, waterfront cafés, and boutique hotels. The UNESCO-listed Kotor Old Town is about 15 minutes away by car.
The numbers tell an interesting story. In 2022, Montenegro welcomed 52,000 UK visitors between January and August. That represented a 374% increase from 2021 and an 87% rise compared to pre-pandemic 2019. By 2024, industry estimates put that figure closer to 70,000 UK visitors over the same period.
What’s drawing people? A mix of things. The Kotor-Lovćen cable car opened in 2023, offering access to Lovćen National Park in under 11 minutes. Day trips to Perast (a baroque waterfront village), Our Lady of the Rocks (an artificial island with a 17th-century church), and the Blue Cave are all within easy reach. And for families, Tivat’s Naval Heritage Collection features a restored submarine with tours from €5.
Worth knowing: UK passport holders can visit Montenegro for up to 90 days without a visa.
The Guernsey Route: A Heathrow First
The Guernsey route launches on 19 April 2026 with daily, year-round flights. Flight time is around 45 minutes, and return fares start from £101.
This is the first and only direct connection between Heathrow and Guernsey. Previously, travellers relied on regional carriers or connections via Gatwick. The Heathrow link opens up onward connections to over 20 European cities (Rome, Madrid, Geneva) and long-haul destinations like New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles.
Guernsey’s visitor numbers have been climbing. In Q1 2025, the island recorded 21,928 staying visitors, up 6% on the same period in 2024. By Q3 2025, that figure reached 78,170 staying visitors, a 3% year-on-year increase. The island’s Net Promoter Score (a measure of visitor satisfaction) jumped to 71 percentage points in Q3 2025, up from 55 the previous year.
The island itself covers 65 square kilometres, making it compact and accessible. Highlights include rugged cliffs, golden beaches, WWII German occupation sites, and Victorian architecture. The short flight time and English-speaking environment make it a practical option for families with young children or elderly relatives.
As a British Crown Dependency, UK and Irish citizens don’t need a passport to enter Guernsey (though photo ID is required). EU nationals can stay for up to 30 days visa-free.
Here’s Where It Gets Good
Both routes are available to book now, with early bird pricing live.
For Montenegro: The seasonal window (mid-May to late September) lines up with peak Mediterranean summer. June and September tend to offer warmer weather with fewer crowds than the July-August peak.
For Guernsey: Year-round daily flights make it a viable option for spring and autumn breaks as well as summer. The island’s mild climate (average highs of 15-20°C in spring and autumn) suits travellers looking for cooler escapes.
Client Conversations
Montenegro may appeal to travellers seeking Mediterranean aesthetics without the crowds or price tag of more established destinations. It works well for luxury couples, active explorers, and families interested in cultural day trips.
Guernsey suits families seeking short, low-stress flights, business travellers needing Heathrow connections, and history enthusiasts drawn to WWII heritage.
Agent Advantage Insight
With both routes now available to book and early bird pricing live, agents who build familiarity with Tivat and Guernsey can bring something new to client conversations in 2026.
