BA launches Open Skies
Posted by Emma Torry on January 10, 2008 at 06:22 PM
British Airways has launched its first direct services between the US and Europe, with daily flights from New York to Brussels or Paris. The airline aims to take on the likes of Air France and Lufthansa in their own backyards.
BA will set up a subsidiary airline, called (imaginatively) Open Skies, after the treaty between Europe and America that eased restrictions on non-US airlines carrying passengers from third countries to the US.
Open Skies will launch with one Boeing 757 flying between Brussels or Paris and New York this June. Unexpectedly, the 757 will provide 82 seats for business, premium economy and economy passengers; many thought the route would provide premium class seats only. By 2010 BA hopes to have six 757s in its Open Skies fleet.
The Open Skies agreement also allows Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and United Airlines to operate flights between Heathrow and the US, loosening BA's iron grip on Heathrow.
BA's 3,000 existing pilots aren't too delighted about the news though. They are concerned that the new venture will employ flight crew on different terms and conditions (i.e. the Open Skies pilots might get paid more). BA face a meeting on Monday with Balpa - the pilots' union - to address their concerns.
