HEBRON, Ky. — Kentuckians can now take a direct trip to the UK, and it’s not to see the Wildcats play basketball.

What You Need To Know

  • You can now fly from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to London

  • The airport has been working on securing the partnership for years

  • The direct flight is expected to have a $57 million economic impact

  • Passengers say having a direct flight is a lot more convenient

Passengers took off from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Monday night on CVG’s first British Airways flight to London Heathrow Airport.

Alex Doe, a young traveler, had been waiting for the moment for as long as he could remember.

“I don’t even think this is real. Because I woke up this morning and I was just dancing around. I was like today’s the day, finally,” Doe said.

It was real. Doe and his family were set to take off on the inaugural British Airways flight to visit family in the United Kingdom.

“I’ve always wanted to do an international inaugural flight. So I’m just really excited to be here,” Doe said.

That might sound like a very specific dream for a kid of his age, but Doe has a thing for planes.

“I want to be a pilot when I grow up,” he said.

CVG is British Airlines’ 27th U.S. destination. Having a direct option is convenient for people like Stephanie Betas, who visit the UK often.

“So much easier to just hop on the plane and get to your destination, and not get layovers,” Betas said.

People who fly to London can connect to over 20 other European countries, Africa and the Middle East.

CVG CEO Candace McGraw said it will boost tourism in the Cincinnati region with an estimated $57 million annual economic impact.

“People don’t come to an airport to visit the airport. They come to visit the community. They come to visit their loved ones. They come to visit a business,” McGraw said.

She said, until now, the UK was CVG’s largest unserved international market. Now that direct flights are available, travelers like Doe will need to brush up on their British accents.

Service between CVG and London operates five times weekly during the current summer flying season. It will drop to four times a week during the winter flying season.

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