OpenSkies offers new US options

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BA’s new Open Skies carrier will take off from either Paris or Brussels in June.

British Airways will provide yet another option for travel to the US when it launches its new subsidiary airline ‘OpenSkies' in June.

Flights will take off from either Brussels or Paris Charles de Gaulle to New York - it was not clear which hub would be launched at time of press - and will be served by a Boeing 757 aircraft. A second aircraft will be added to the fleet later this year to fly to the other EU destination.

The plan is to operate six 757s by the end of 2009, all of which will be sourced from the current British Airways fleet. The aircraft will carry up to 82 passengers across three cabins: business, premium economy and economy.

"This is an exciting new venture for us and we're confident it will be a great success as we build on the strength of British Airways' brand in the US and Europe," said BA chief executive Willie Walsh.

"By naming the airline OpenSkies, we're celebrating the first major step in 60 years towards a liberalised US/EU aviation market, which means we can fly between any US and EU destination.

It also signals our determination to lobby for further liberalisation in this market when talks between the EU and US take place later this year."

OpenSkies' business class cabin has 24 seats that convert into six-inch flat beds. There will be 28 premium economy seats with a 52-inch seat pitch and 30 economy seats.

The 757s will have winglets retro-fitted on the aircraft to improve fuel efficiency, reduce the aircraft's CO₂ emissions and increase their operating range.

OpenSkies' managing director will be Dale Moss, BA's former director of worldwide sales. The carrier will shortly file an application for the necessary regulatory approval in the US and UK.

In other US flight news, speculation is mounting that Emirates Airline is set to launch a Los Angeles service any day now and Emirates Holidays vice president commercial operations has told ATN that it was "no secret" the carrier is keen to expand its presence in the Americas.

"We believe there is a growing demand for convenient air travel connections between the Americas and cities in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinen," she said.

"Our current services to New York, JFK are extremely popular and the resultant strong customer demand prompted us to launch services to Sao Paulo, Toronto, and Houston."

"Also, our new 777-200LR aircraft makes it possible to operate these ultra long-haul routes efficiently, while providing our passengers with the latest comforts and amenities onboard."

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