The British are coming......

[9rj9]

British Airways will announce on Wednesday that it is pressing ahead with its ambitious plan to launch services between the US and leading business and financial centres in continental Europe.
The venture will start during the coming summer season with early services to include the routes between New York and Paris and Brussels.
It is designed to take advantage of the US/European Union "open skies" deal to liberalise transatlantic air services, which comes into operation at the end of March.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

We should have taken over Canada back in 1812 when we had the chance.

 

[Furloughed80]

The most important point of this story is that this is an alter-ego carrier. These flights will not be flown by BA pilots.

 

[On Your Six]

I thought Ryanair in the UK was also going to set-up a low-cost service (separate from the current LCC) for all of Europe using 787s or A330s initially and serving secondary airports in the US (like Newburgh vs. JFK)? I guess since the 787 won't be available for a few years the A330 would be more likely.

Anyone have an update on Ryanair's activities?

 

[John Pennekamp]

We should have taken over Canada back in 1812 when we had the chance.

Strange comment.

The first shot of the War of 1812 was fired at the French outpost of De Trois, which is modern day Detroit. It was because the Americans invaded the Canadian side. If you study the war there were many cross border transgressions, and our invasion of Canada gave the British an excuse to try and reacquire the US.

While American history textbooks claim that the US won the war because we repelled the British, the British and Canadians view it as their victory for keeping the invading Americans out of Canada.

 

[CitationLover]

Strange comment.

The first shot of the War of 1812 was fired at the French outpost of De Trois, which is modern day Detroit. It was because the Americans invaded the Canadian side. If you study the war there were many cross border transgressions, and our invasion of Canada gave the British an excuse to try and reacquire the US.

While American history textbooks claim that the US won the war because we repelled the British, the British and Canadians view it as their victory for keeping the invading Americans out of Canada.

that and the most famous battle of the war was fought after the war ended.

 

[General Lee]

Well, Air France will be flying from LHR to LAX......

OpenSkies Takes Off
Wednesday January 9, 8:33 am ET
NEW YORK, Jan. 9, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- British Airways is planning to launch its new US-EU subsidiary airline ``OpenSkies'' with daily flights from New York to Brussels and Paris.
The airline will launch in June 2008 with one Boeing 757 aircraft that will operate from New York to either Brussels or Paris Charles de Gaulle airports. 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 on
Boeing 757 aircraft with three onboard cabins: business, premium economy and economy.

British Airways' Chief Executive Willie Walsh said: ``This is an exciting new venture for us and we're confident that it will be a great success as we build on the strength of British Airways' brand in the US and Europe.
``By naming the airline OpenSkies, we're celebrating the first major step in 60 years towards a liberalized US/EU aviation market which means we can fly between any US and EU destination. It also signals our determination to lobby for further liberalization 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-foot long 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. These will improve fuel efficiency, reduce the aircraft's CO2 emissions and increase the aircraft's operating range."




Looks like British Airways doesn't want to be left behind, and Air France moved in on it's territory by adding a daily 777 from Heathrow to LAX. No doubt British Air wants to retaliate by throwing their hat in on the JFK--CDG route. On the JFK to BRU route, they will have to fight AA, DL and Jet Airways (of India), and on the NYC (including EWR) to BRU route, they will have to compete with CAL and Jet Airways again, which has a whole new First Class service.

These routes will be flown by 82 passenger 757s, and they will have to crank up their advertising budgets to go up against US carriers that have domestic feed here, and a new Indian entrant that has ultra first class compartments with lie flat suites (like the Singapore A380). Good luck with that Brits! You don't have the feed and can't compete with the ultra service. NYC Paris also has LeAvion (ultra first class 757s from EWR to Orly), and EOS also announced EWR to CDG starting soon on their 757s. Not a good time to start service from those city pairs either, but they have to respond somehow to the invasion of their own turf at LHR. The once restricted airport will now allow anyone that can get slots and gates--and DL, NWA, US, and CAL just got some. They have to put their older 757s somewhere, since they have been slowly taking them out of service. Time to crank them back up I guess...


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

82 Pax on a 75? Even with the fancy seats that seems to be "too few" butts.

I like the name, "Open Skies"....prelude of things to come?

 

[Noserider76]

The most important point of this story is that this is an alter-ego carrier. These flights will not be flown by BA pilots.

You're right. They're taking 75's out of BA's fleet and hiring low wage pilots to fly the routes. Looks like a scab operation to me.

 

[jke406]

Strange comment.

The first shot of the War of 1812 was fired at the French outpost of De Trois, which is modern day Detroit. It was because the Americans invaded the Canadian side. If you study the war there were many cross border transgressions, and our invasion of Canada gave the British an excuse to try and reacquire the US.

While American history textbooks claim that the US won the war because we repelled the British, the British and Canadians view it as their victory for keeping the invading Americans out of Canada.

thanks, professor.