Showgirls at London Gatwick

The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has joined forces with British Airways to celebrate the airline’s new direct route from Gatwick airport in style.

Customers at British Airways’ new Gatwick North Terminal check-in area were treated to a glass of English bubbly at a pop-up Las Vegas bar and entertained by tunes from a grand piano, a chorus line of twelve showgirls, circus performers and a four-tier ‘inaugural cake’.

The service will be operated by a three-cabin Boeing 777 complete with a Club World cabin with six foot fully flat beds.

It is the second direct route to Las Vegas from the UK with British Airways, which also runs a daily service from London Heathrow.

“Las Vegas is pleased that British Airways has expanded its service from London to Las Vegas by offering this new non-stop service from Gatwick,” said Cathy Tull, senior vice president of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. 

“The UK is our number one overseas market and will play a key role in increasing international visitation to 30 percent of our total visitation over the next decade.”

Silla Maizey, British Airways managing director for Gatwick, cut the inaugural cake decorated with sugar figurines of Elvis Presley accompanied by Las Vegas showgirls.

Maizey, said: “Las Vegas is incredibly popular with British Airways customers and we’re delighted to be able to start flying there from Gatwick.

“It’s the perfect route for our holiday makers, thanks to the sun and fun there is to be had there.”