OpenSkies cleared for take off
British Airways’ new subsidiary OpenSkies has won the green light to start flying from the Continent to the US.
The carrier has received approval from the US Department of Transportation to begin operations.
The new airline will offer flights between Paris Orly airport and New York JFK
from next month.
The formal approval by the DoT enables OpenSkies to start selling tickets and will start taking bookings next week via its website www.flyopenskies.com or by phone.
OpenSkies will also be available for booking through ba.com and by travel agents using the global distribution systems as BA codeshare flights.
The US DoT also approved OpenSkies’ codeshare arrangement with French airline L’Avion. L’Avion’s code will be placed on OpenSkies’ flights between Orly and JFK.
OpenSkies will initially operate one Boeing 757 with second Boeing 757 due to join later this year from BA, growing to a fleet of six by the end of 2009.
OpenSkies plans to service additional routes from European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and Milan to New York.
Managing director Dale Moss said: “We are delighted to receive approval for take-off and sincerely appreciate the DoT’s efficiency and careful consideration in reviewing our application.
“As the first airline to be created as a result of the Open Skies agreement, this is a huge step forward as we work to make history and set a new industry standard across the Atlantic.
“We look forward to bringing travellers an intimate, personalised and premium travel experience between Paris and New York starting in just a few weeks.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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