British Airways Expands Avios-Only Programme with New London City Flights to Madrid and Toulon Saint-Tropez

(IN SHORT) British Airways has announced two new Avios-Only flights from London City Airport to Madrid and Toulon Saint-Tropez, bringing the total number of such services to over 50 since the initiative began in 2023. All seats on these flights will be available exclusively to members of The British Airways Club, with bookings opening on 12 February 2026 and fares starting from £2 plus Avios, including checked baggage. The Madrid flight aligns with the late May bank holiday, while Toulon represents a new summer destination for the airline. Senior executives from British Airways and IAG Loyalty highlighted the growing popularity of Avios-Only services and their role in rewarding customer loyalty, particularly during peak travel periods. Members can also use American Express Companion Vouchers on these flights, while standard Reward Seats remain available across the wider British Airways network with guaranteed minimum availability from Heathrow, Gatwick, and London City.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 2026-Feb-11 — /Travel PR News/ — British Airways has unveiled its latest Avios-Only services, confirming that 100 percent of the seats on two new flights will be available exclusively as Reward Seats for members of The British Airways Club. The flights will operate from London City Airport to Madrid and to Toulon Saint-Tropez, marking a significant milestone as the airline reaches its 50th dedicated Avios-Only operation.

Bookings for these services will open on 12 February 2026, with return pricing starting from £2 plus 21,500 Avios for Toulon and £2 plus 28,000 Avios for Madrid, both including a 23kg checked baggage allowance. The Madrid flight is scheduled to coincide with the late May bank holiday, offering members an opportunity to visit Spain’s cultural capital, while the Toulon service introduces a brand-new British Airways destination for the summer, providing the closest airport access to Saint-Tropez. All flights will depart from and return to London City Airport, located in central London for convenient access.

Since introducing the Avios-Only concept in 2023, British Airways has operated 48 such flights across 16 destinations in Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East, including Cape Town, Barbados, Sharm El Sheikh, Málaga, and Marrakesh. With the addition of the Madrid and Toulon services, the airline will surpass 50 Avios-Only flights, with the return leg from Madrid to London City designated as the official milestone service.

Colm Lacy, Chief Commercial Officer at British Airways, highlighted the continued popularity of Avios-Only flights and described the new routes as ideal summer leisure options. He emphasised that the initiative is designed to reward loyal members by offering more opportunities to redeem Avios for premium travel experiences.

Adam Daniels, Chief Executive Officer of IAG Loyalty, noted that the announcement reinforces the value of the Avios programme, particularly during peak travel periods. He said that making every seat on board available exclusively for Avios redemption enhances flexibility for members and demonstrates the strength of customer loyalty within the airline group.

Members who hold a British Airways American Express Credit Card can also apply their Companion Vouchers when booking Avios-Only flights, allowing them to reserve a second seat for the same journey while paying only the applicable taxes and charges.

Beyond these special services, British Airways continues to offer standard Reward Seats across its entire network, priced at fixed Avios rates. On flights operating from Heathrow and Gatwick, the airline guarantees a minimum of 12 Reward Seats on short-haul routes and 14 on long-haul services. For flights from London City Airport, four Reward Seats are guaranteed per departure—two in Club Europe and two in Euro Traveller. Avios-Only flights differ in that every seat in every cabin is available for redemption through ba.com.

Madrid Avios-Only Service

On 22 May 2026, flight BA3272 will depart London City at 11:00 and arrive in Madrid at 14:20. The return service, BA3273, will operate on 25 May 2026, departing Madrid at 15:10 and landing back at London City at 16:30. Return fares start from £2 plus 28,000 Avios in Euro Traveller and £30 plus 49,000 Avios in Club Europe.

Toulon Saint-Tropez Avios-Only Service

The Toulon service will commence on 13 June 2026, with flight BA8747 departing London City at 07:00 and arriving in Toulon at 10:00. The return flight, BA8748, will operate on 20 June 2026, leaving Toulon at 10:45 and arriving in London City at 11:50. Return pricing begins at £2 plus 21,500 Avios in Euro Traveller and £30 plus 36,000 Avios in Club Europe.

About The British Airways Club  

The British Airways Club is a free-to-join reward programme for anyone who loves travel. Its currency is Avios, which can be collected by flying with BA or its partner airlines, taking a holiday, making purchases with more than 2,000 retailers when shopping through British Airways at avios.com, or through everyday spending with a wide range of partners such as American Express, Nectar, Avis Budget Group and Marriott.

Members can also collect tier points every time they fly with British Airways or its oneworld® partners, which offer access to a range of exclusive benefits as they climb the tiers through Blue, Bronze, Silver and Gold. As of 1 April 2025, Members will also collect tier points on ancillary spend, co-brand credit card spend and contributions to sustainable aviation fuel. For more information, visit www.ba.com/theclub .

 

About IAG Loyalty 

IAG Loyalty is a pioneer in the loyalty industry with over 30 years of experience. It’s home to British Airways Holidays and Avios – the loyalty currency of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, Qatar Airways, Finnair and Loganair. With a vision to create the world’s most rewarding experiences, IAG Loyalty enables more than 69 million members worldwide to collect and redeem Avios through a diverse range of partners spanning retail, travel and financial services. Its parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), is one of the world’s largest airline groups with 600+ aircraft carrying more than 122 million customers to 260 destinations across 91 countries each year. For more information, visit www.iagloyalty.com.

Media contact:
press.office@ba.com

SOURCE: British Airways