The six to seven-hour hop across the pond has been one of the most popular International routes
from the US. As the journey has primarily been operated by widebody aircraft, narrowbody planes have populated it more recently and are expected to continue to do so indefinitely, thanks to newer planes. In fact, long-haul narrowbody aircraft have also allowed airlines to begin service to new markets that otherwise could not be served. Nonetheless, widebody aircraft continue to dominate flights between the US and the UK.
Photo: Lukas Wunderlich | Shutterstock
With three US legacy carriers and two main airlines serving London, the analysis of most flights between the US and the UK results in five airlines. This popular connection between the two countries is not only essential to leisure travel, but to business travel, and other elements that support the economies of each. The routes operated by US airlines originate from the airline’s respective US hub, but in the return, passengers from the UK have numerous destinations within the US to travel on to. The same can be said for US travelers visiting on a UK carrier.
Here are the top five airlines operating the most flights between the UK and US this month. Interestingly, only one airline currently operates narrowbodies on the routes, but that will likely change in the coming years.
1
British Airways
2,435 flights
With more than 2,400 flights, 
British Airways
comes in at number one, according to aviation data and analytics firm Cirium. The airline has an extensive US route network from its hub at London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
, but also operates other flights to the US from London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
.
Gatwick’s US operation is much smaller, with only three destinations:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Photo: British Airways
The Boeing 777-200ER is used on all flights from Gatwick to the US. British Airways uses other widebodies in its operation from London Heathrow, which is much larger, connecting the following destinations:
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
This month, British Airways will deploy a mixture of the Boeing 777-200ER, 777-300ER, 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 Dreamliner on its US routes from London Heathrow. Among its Airbus fleet, the carrier will utilize the A350-1000 and the A380.
2
Virgin Atlantic
1,173 flights
The UK’s other home carrier, Virgin Atlantic
, has nearly 1,200 flights scheduled between the country and the US this month. The airline competes with British Airways on many routes but also operates flights from Manchester Airport (MAN)
. Virgin will utilize its A330-300 and A330-900neos on its service from Manchester to Atlanta, New York, and Orlando in addition to being served from London.
Photo: The Global Guy | Shutterstock
Virgin’s US network from Heathrow also involves the A330-300 and -900neo, along with the:
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The airline serves the following US destinations from Heathrow: Atlanta, Boston, Washington Dulles, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Miami, Seattle, San Francisco, and Tampa.
3
American Airlines
1,111 flights
oneworld Alliance member and British Airways’ partner 
American Airlines
will perform just over 1,100 flights this month. Understandably, the carrier’s operation is not as robust as that of the UK carriers, but it will still offer more flights than its US counterparts. American connects Heathrow Airport with seven hubs and two secondary cities where demand
seems prevalent. The carrier will use a fleet of 777-200ERs, -300ERs, and 787-9s to perform the frequencies.
Photo: David S Swierczek | Shutterstock
American flies to the UK from:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU)
4
United Airlines
1,071 flights
Chicago-based 
United Airlines
could be ruled as the oddball out, considering it does not have a partnership with British Airways or Virgin America. The fact likely explains why the carrier has the second-most flights to the UK, compared to its counterparts. The airline will perform just over 1,000 flights and is the only carrier to utilize a narrowbody aircraft between the two countries.
Photo: Mike Fuchslocher | Shutterstock
In addition to London Heathrow, United has flights scheduled to Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
from its hub in Newark. The flights will be operated by the 757-200. The carrier deploys its 767-300ERs, 777-200ERs, and 787-9s on the other routes to London, which originate from the following destinations:
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
5
Delta Air Lines
653 flights
Delta Air Lines
has remarkably pulled back on its operation between the US and the UK, and the data shows – it will only offer less than 700 flights this month. The carrier clearly relies on its partner, Virgin, to fulfill its demand through codeshares
. There are some routes that Delta will serve this month that are not operated by Virgin, such as New York – Edinburgh, which is performed by the 767-300ER. It is the only route that does not involve London.
Photo: Jon Tetzlaff | Shutterstock
The remainder of its US-UK operation connects Heathrow to the following destinations on the 767-400ER, A330-200, -300, and -900neo:
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
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