British Airways ‘balances’ US growth as competitors add slew of new routes

Columbus, Ohio. Nashville. Phoenix.All three cities will gain new nonstop routes to European destinations next summer — including, in some cases, their first-ever transatlantic service — thanks to Air France, American Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines and other carriers.British Airways, which operates more flights to the U.S. than any other European airline, is notably absent from the list."There's always a balance between new routes and growing in existing markets," Neil Chernoff, the chief planning and strategy officer of British Airways, said on the sidelines of the Routes World conference in Frankfurt this week.The new Club World business class on British Airways' Airbus A380s. (British Airways)Rather than add new routes, the Oneworld alliance carrier will increase flights from its hub at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) to four U.S. destinations in summer 2027: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).The increases include:Cincinnati: Daily service, up from five to six flights per week.Las Vegas: Twice-daily service...