British Air to shift more flights to Terminal 5

Flights to and from New York's JFK Airport among the first to transfer

Top slideshows

Getty Images	The Big Apple Long referred to as the center of American business, New York is a melting pot of cultures and landscapes. Take a visual tour of some of the Big Apple’s most famous attractions.
Lonely Planet Images	Hawaiian paradise The Hawaiian Islands are the perfect vacation destination for travelers of all types.
Lonely Planet Images	National spectacles Nearly 400 national parks can be found all across America, and feature breathtaking vistas, rock formations millions of years old, and more.

updated 12:58 p.m. ET May 9, 2008

LONDON - British Airways PLC and airports operator BAA said Friday they will begin shifting long-haul flights to Heathrow's Terminal 5 in June, with services to and from New York's JFK Airport among the first to transfer.

British Airways and BAA said that services to and from eight destinations will be switched from Terminal 4 to the new terminal on June 5.

The flights to New York and Phoenix in the United States; Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria; Bangalore, India; Cairo, Egypt; Cape Town, South Africa, and Beijing represent around a quarter of British Airway's Terminal 4 schedule.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Moving the flights is the first phase in a transfer program that is expected to take several months.

British Airways had originally intended to shift all flights from other terminals at the airport to Terminal 5 in just a couple of days at the end of April, but that plan was curtailed by a raft of problems at the new facility that led to hundreds of canceled flights and lost bags.

British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh confirmed Friday that the move would occur in phases.

"We have taken this decision in the interests of customers, who remain our priority at all times," he said. "Terminal 5 is now working well, and we are pleased we can confirm our plan to move in some additional flights on June 5."

BAA's chief executive, Colin Matthews, said the pair "continue to work together intensively to complete the migration of the remaining long-haul services as soon as is practicable."

The terminal currently is being used for domestic flights and short-haul flights, mainly from Europe.

Don't miss these Travel stories from msnbc.com
No rest for the weary as rest areas close
Disney World takes steps to fight swine flu
Strippers-on-a-truck promotion halted in Vegas
5 things to know before traveling this holiday season
High-level luxury comes with a big price at these hotels