From March 25th British Airways customers will be offered a chance to fly first-class on the airline’s new long- haul service to Moscow.

The start of the summer season also sees additional long-haul flights from Heathrow to New York JFK, Johannesburg, Miami, Hong Kong and Riyadh.

British Airways’ partner Iberia will also move its eight daily services from Heathrow to Madrid into Terminal 5 from Terminal 3, for the first time.

This terminal move will allow customers better access to more destinations, and a smoother transfer experience at Heathrow between British Airways and Iberia flights.

Richard Tams, head of UK & Ireland sales and marketing, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to offer additional capacity to some of our more popular routes.

“We’ve also listened to our customers and are delighted to introduce our new shortest long-haul premium service to Moscow.”

The route, started in 1959, will change from a short-haul service operated with two cabins to a long- haul operation operated by a daily Boeing 747 and two long-haul Boeing 767s.

British Airways will be the only airline offering premium seats and comprehensive in-flight entertainment to all customers travelling between London and the Russian capital, including fully flatbeds in First, Club World, as well as long-haul in World Traveller Plus and World Traveller.

Flights will also be supplied with special menu’s and in-flight dining catering to Russian customers, as well as ensuring supplies of top quality vodkas.

Other changes at Heathrow have resulted in additional short-haul flights to popular destinations such as Barcelona, Brussels, Bologna, Rome, Hamburg, Paris Orly, Prague, Helsinki, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.

At Gatwick British Airways will so start daily flights to Algiers, as well as services to Nice.

Three new leisure routes, to Mahon in Majorca, Angers in the Loire Valley and Quimper in Brittany, will also start from London City Airport, resulting in a total of 21 destinations in the UK, Europe and USA being served from the docklands airport.