British Airways launched a four times weekly service from London Heathrow (LHR) to Santiago (SCL) in Chile on 3 January.

Instead of greeting British Airways’ inaugural flight from London Heathrow with a traditional water arch salute, Santiago’s fire fighters brought out the biggest Union Flag in South America to greet the 787-9 as it touched down in Chile. Santiago Airport also baked a cake to greet the arrival of its newest oneworld member.

The 11,647-kilometre sector has become the airline’s, and the UK’s, lengthiest non-stop long-haul route, taking 14 hours 40 minutes, 50 minutes more than the current longest flight of 13 hours 50 minutes service to Buenos Aires.

BA251 departed Heathrow at 22:00 operated by the airline’s newest aircraft – the 787-9 – arriving into Chile at 09:40 the following morning. The airport pair faces no direct competition.