Colombia’s national airline Avianca will provide the UK with its first direct connection to the Latin American country for almost a decade.
The airline will operate four flights a week between London and Bogota from this summer.
The route was announced this week by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg during a trade mission to south America. During his trip Clegg hailed Colombia as one of the world’s most promising economies.
He said it will help the UK meet its new bilateral trade target of £4 billion by 2020.
The deal with Avianca has been five years in the making and Heathrow claims it is proof that a lack of hub airport capacity in the UK is preventing Britain from forging enough direct links with fast-growing emerging economies.
Avianca first started talking to Heathrow in 2009 but has been forced to wait until suitable take-off and landing slots became available at the west London airport, which is operating close to capacity.
It will be the only direct flight between the UK and Colombia and is expected to open in July.
According to the British embassy in Colombia, more than 20,000 British citizens have flown to the country during the past year.
Heathrow’s CEO Colin Matthews said: “We are delighted that Avianca is coming to Heathrow this summer.
“The world’s economic centre of gravity is shifting and Britain needs to capitalise on links to fast growing economies like Colombia.
“We would like to welcome more flights bringing trade and jobs to the UK but a lack of hub airport capacity means we are less well connected than we could be.”