British Airways Launches Open Skies Subsidiary

British Airways held a breakfast in New York City yesterday to announce the creation of a new subsidiary -- dubbed Open Skies -- that will begin direct flights from New York to Brussels and Paris in June, which I covered in the Jan. 10 issue (subscribers only) of Aviation Daily.

The ink was barely dry on the U.S./EU Open Skies pact signed last March before airlines on both sides of the Atlantic began jockeying for position to fly between key points in the U.S. and Europe. 

Starting with one Boeing 757, the airline-within-an airline wants to add service to cities that include Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan and Zurich, along with Boston, Washington and Philadelphia, said Managing Director Dale Moss. “We hope to fly out of JFK Airport, but we’re waiting” for government approval, he said.

The aircraft will feature a three-class, 82-seat cabin – 24 seats in business class, 28 in premium economy and 30 economy seats. Business class will feature seats that convert into six-foot-long flat beds, while premium economy will have 52-inch seat pitch. The carrier plans to add another 757 this year and have six aircraft by the end of 2009.

Seats will be 2/2 abreast in business and premium economy and 3/3 in economy, said Moss. “We feel three segments are best way to start. But if the market responds to two of these segments, we can adjust because we only have a few aircraft,” said Moss. “We can be a lab for BA and share what we’ve learned.”  You can click here to listen to my 3:10 minute Podcast with Dale Moss.

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