17 November 2008

BA to offer pre-arrival clearance to US

Business passengers using a new British Airways flight from London City airport to New York will be able to clear US customs and immigration at a Shannon airport stop-over.

The airline is to start the twice-daily business class service between London City and New York in autumn 2009. Eastbound flights will be non-stop.

The arrangement means that passengers will be allowed to bypass the normal arrivals checks when they land at JFK as Shannon is the first European airport to be granted pre-clearance facilities for transatlantic services to the US.

Flights will be operated by Airbus A318 with 32 flat-bed seats, the largest aircraft that can take-off and land at London City airport. The service will be the first long haul route operated from the Docklands airport.

The aircraft will offer a one-cabin business class product with 32 flat-bed seats.

BA commercial director Robert Boyle said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe introduction of pre-clearance facilities at Shannon will mean customers on our business-class flights from London City to New York will be able to bypass the normal customs and immigration checks on arrival in the US.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœMany city workers will be able to get from desk to aircraft in as little as 30 minutes at London City. Now it will be more convenient than ever to travel from desk to desk from London City to New York, in unrivalled comfort and style.Ã¢â¬~

by Phil Davies