Originally Posted by True Blue
On the BA thread I asked when BA started flying to Orlando. One reply said about 1987, I have no idea if it is right or wrong, but have no reason to believe the reply was not given in good faith.
BA started ops to Orlando before 1987. In fact I believe that BA started flights via Miami in 1985. I am basing this date on firstly this article that I found online from July 1984 which gives info on how Orlando and Tampa were both competing to become BA's next destination in Florida
http://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/07/...4946459403200/
I have also found this post on airlineroute.net. The post details BA's Inter-Continental network for the W85/86. During that season BA operated a 747 2 x weekly to Orlando Via Miami and a 747 4 x weekly to Tampa via Miami. Flights to both Orlando and Tampa operated using the same flight numbers, BA293/BA292.
1985/86: British Airways Inter-Continental Network | Airline Route
Hope this helps answer your question. Sorry I couldn't find a exact date