Direct Flights from London to Accra: Every Nonstop Option (2026 Schedules)

The short answer: which airlines fly direct from London to Accra?

Just one. British Airways is the only airline operating nonstop flights between London and Accra — daily from Heathrow Terminal 5 (BA81) and four times a week from Gatwick (BA2067) in the winter 2026 schedule. The flight takes about 6 hours 40 minutes (schedules checked 10 October 2026; fare benchmarks checked 29 September 2026). See our flights to Accra from London destination guide for fares, seasons and travel tips.

Every nonstop London–Accra option, compared

From Heathrow: BA81, the daily workhorse

BA81 departs Heathrow every single day, making it the default nonstop choice. The winter 2026 pattern (from 25 October): Monday–Thursday, Saturday and Sunday departures leave around 13:15 and land at Kotoka International around 19:50; the Friday service departs 13:05 and lands 19:40 (from 30 October). British Airways uses the Airbus A350-1000 on this route, with Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First cabins all scheduled (directflights.com route facts, checked 10 October 2026). The 5,128 km sector is one of BA’s longest African routes.

Heathrow also matters for connections: as BA’s main hub, it gives the easiest onward links if you are flying to Accra from a UK regional airport, and the widest choice of departure dates because the service is daily.

From Gatwick: BA2067, four times a week

Gatwick’s Accra service runs Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 26 October 2026, departing 11:45 and arriving 18:30 on a Boeing 777 — a slightly shorter sector at 5,092 km, with flight times of 6h 35m–6h 40m. Gatwick’s nonstop Accra flights began in October 2023 with three weekly services; the winter 2026 schedule runs four (Business Traveller; schedule data via zbordirect/flightmapper).

The Gatwick flight can be the smarter pick if you live south of London or want an earlier arrival: 18:30 into Accra gives you daylight for onward connections to Kumasi, Tamale or Takoradi. The trade-off is frequency — miss your day and the next nonstop is not tomorrow.

Day-by-day: who flies which days (winter 2026, from 26 October)

Always re-check your exact times when booking — BA shifts departure minutes between schedule seasons.

Heathrow vs Gatwick: which to choose?

Choose Heathrow if you want the most dates to pick from, the A350 with four cabins, or connections from UK regional airports. Choose Gatwick if you want the earlier 18:30 arrival, live in the south-east, or find the Gatwick fare cheaper on your dates — the two BA services price independently, and Gatwick sometimes undercuts Heathrow on the same week. Both land at Kotoka’s Terminal 3.

Why only one airline?

London–Accra nonstop has been a one-airline route for over a decade. Virgin Atlantic flew Heathrow–Accra but suspended the route in 2013; no other carrier — UK or otherwise — has launched a competing nonstop since (Business Traveller). African carriers like Ethiopian, Kenya Airways and RwandAir serve Accra only via their home hubs, so from London every alternative to BA involves one stop.

What the nonstop costs vs 1-stop alternatives

The direct flight commands a premium, but it is not always large. KAYAK’s London–Accra route data puts the cheapest tracked nonstop return at $879, with typical nonstop prices of $961–$1,333 (fares checked 29 September 2026). One-stop alternatives via Amsterdam (KLM), Lisbon (TAP) or Casablanca (Royal Air Maroc) can undercut the direct flight — but rarely by enough to justify the extra 3–8 hours unless your dates are flexible. For the full price picture across the year, see our month-by-month price calendar.

6 tips for booking the nonstop

1. Compare Heathrow and Gatwick on your exact dates. The two services price independently — the Gatwick 777 sometimes undercuts the Heathrow A350 on the same week.
2. Book around 40 days ahead. Trip.com’s booking data points to ~40 days before departure as the typical cheapest booking point on this route (fares checked 29 September 2026).
3. Fly Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday. Those are typically the cheapest departure days on London–Accra (Trip.com, fares checked 29 September 2026) — and BA81 flies all three from Heathrow.
4. Watch the Gatwick day gaps. With no Tuesday, Friday or Sunday nonstop from Gatwick, a missed connection can cost you days — build buffer time if connecting at LGW.
5. Book the through ticket. If you are continuing to Kumasi, Tamale or beyond on one itinerary, a single ticket protects your connection if the London leg is delayed.
6. Check the visa early. UK passport holders need a Ghana visa before travel — apply well ahead of peak periods like Christmas, when consular demand peaks. See our Detty December guide.

Frequently asked questions

Which airlines fly direct from London to Accra?
Only British Airways. It operates BA81 daily from Heathrow and BA2067 four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday) from Gatwick in the winter 2026 schedule. No other airline flies nonstop on this route.

How long is the direct flight from London to Accra?
About 6 hours 40 minutes: 6h 35m–6h 45m from Heathrow and 6h 35m–6h 40m from Gatwick, depending on the schedule period (directflights.com, checked 10 October 2026).

How often does BA fly from London to Accra?
11 nonstop flights a week across two London airports: 7 weekly from Heathrow (daily) plus 4 weekly from Gatwick (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday) in winter 2026.

Is there a direct flight from Manchester or Birmingham to Accra?
No. Every nonstop UK–Accra flight departs from London. From Manchester or Birmingham you will connect — most commonly via Amsterdam, Lisbon, Casablanca or Istanbul.

What terminal does BA use for Accra?
Heathrow departures use Terminal 5; Gatwick departures use the South Terminal. All BA flights arrive at Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

How much are direct flights from London to Accra?
Cheapest tracked nonstop returns start around $879, with typical nonstop prices of $961–$1,333 (KAYAK, fares checked 29 September 2026). One-stop alternatives via Amsterdam, Lisbon or Casablanca can be cheaper — compare both.

Do I need a visa to fly to Accra from the UK?
Yes — UK passport holders need a Ghana visa before travel, and your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date.

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