2019’S NEW FLIGHTS

Charleston, USA THERE ARE several new flight routes launching in 2019 to various US cities, including a BA direct route to Pittsburgh and extra flights with Virgin Atlantic from Manchester to Los Angeles.

But the most exciting new route is the first direct transatlantic link to Charleston, South Carolina. Starting on April 4, British Airways will be flying from Heathrow to the historic city, which dates back to 1670, and which saw the first battle of the country’s Civil War.

Corsica

One of the least well-known parts of France, Corsica has been tempting more and more tourists — bookings have been up 202 per cent year on year, according to lastminute.com. Now, as well as Air Corsica’s direct flights which started in summer 2018, British Airways will fly to Bastia in the north and Figari in the south, to make holidays on this beautiful island easier than ever. And 2019 marks 250 years since the birth of Napoleon; the future emperor spent his childhood in Ajaccio, where you can still visit his home at Maison Bonaparte.

Durban, South Africa South Africa’s third biggest city is taking some of the attention back from Cape Town in 2019: direct flights from Heathrow with British Airways launched two months ago, the only non-stop link from Europe to the city.

Perfect if you’re looking for winter sun — including some of the country’s best surfing — it’s also a great location for anyone interested in history, from Zulu heritage to the reopened Gandhi Museum and colonial architecture in the city itself.

Nearby, two new luxury lodges are also opening in the Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, which is home to all of the Big Five, including elephants and rhino.