OpenSkies

The routes that OpenSkies intends to fly are only possible because of the EU-US Open Skies Agreement, which permits any American or European airline to operate services to and from any European or American location. The availability of landing slots limits the impact of the agreement at certain airports, such as London Heathrow Airport.^[3]^[4]

OpenSkies is a full-service carrier and offers business class (Biz), premium economy (Prem+) and economy (Econ) cabins on board its aircraft.^[2] However, on 1 October 2008 the economy cabin will be eliminated and an expanded premium economy cabin will take its place.^[6]

BA European Limited trading as Openskies holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence which permits it to carry passengers, cargo, and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.^[7]

History

"Project Lauren" was the code-name for OpenSkies when it was first planned by British Airways.^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11] British Airways' wanted to reduce the over-dependence on their Heathrow Airport hub by flying between the United States and cities in continental Europe.^[8] The bypass was only able to be done after an open skies treaty between the United States the European Union would allow any airline to fly between airports in the two continents starting in March 2008.

In July 2008 British Airways bought French airline L'Avion for £54 million. L'Avion will be integrated into OpenSkies by early 2009.^[12]

Service

The new airline was initially rumoured to be planning business-class-only flights, with the first flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Orly Airport in Paris; the inaugural flight starting in New York on 19 June 2008.^[9] However, the airline changed its plans to include a very small five row section of economy class seats in the rear of the aircraft in addition to premium economy and business class seats (the economy section will later be eliminated in favor of more premium economy seating). This differs from the tactic of other existing business-class-only carriers flying from Europe to the United States. British Airways questioned the viability of all business class carriers after the failures/bankruptcies of MAXjet and Eos Airlines.^{citation needed}

The third destination for Openskies is scheduled to be Amsterdam when flights begin on 15 October 2008 and Newark will become an additional destination when L'Avion is integrated in OpenSkies in 2009.^[5]^[12]

OpenSkies is not a member of any airline alliance and has no affiliation with the Oneworld alliance of which parent British Airways is a founding member. However, British Airways Executive Club members are able to claim tier points and BA miles on OpenSkies flights.

Fleet

OpenSkies initially intends to operate a single model of aircraft, the Boeing 757.^[2]^[3] British Airways transferred one Boeing 757 aircraft for the start of operations, with an additional aircraft to be transferred to OpenSkies by December 2008, and a further 4 aircraft in service by December 2009. BA intends to transfer all of the 757s from its existing fleet, replacing them with new Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft.^[2]^[3] The Boeing 757 aircraft are fitted with blended winglets to increase range, improve fuel consumption and decrease CO₂ emissions, and the cabin provides 82 seats in three classes. ^[2]^[3]^[13] On 1 October 2008 this will be further reduced to 64 seats in two classes through the elimination of the Econ cabin and expansion of the Prem+ cabin.^[6]

The fleet retains the "Chatham Dockyard" tail fin livery, but features a grey underbody instead of the dark blue that features on British Airways fleet and has red winglets.^[2] The first Boeing 757 was named Lauren after OpenSkies' code-name prior to launch, Project Lauren.

References

^ ^a ^b EUROCONTROL Designators for Aircraft Operating Agencies, Aeronautical Authorities and Services, Edition 144
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Bokaie, Jemima (2008-01-09). "BA brands new airline OpenSkies", Brand Republic. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "BA to launch 'open skies' airline", BBC News Online, BBC (2008-01-09). Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
^ ^a ^b ^c Stone, Rod (2008-01-09). "British Airways To Start US-Continental Europe Services", DOW JONES NEWSWIRES, CNN. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
^ ^a ^b Done, Kevin (2008-07-28). "BA takes OpenSkies to Amsterdam", Financial Times. Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
^ ^a ^b "OpenSkies Shakes Earth With Announcement". American Chronicle. Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
^ Civil Aviation Authority Official Record Series 2 Number 1849 13 May 2008 - Type A Operating Licence granted from the 9 May 2008
^ ^a ^b "Battle for Heathrow to NY flights", The Daily Telegraph (2007-03-11). Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
^ ^a ^b "BA 'risks pilot dispute on EU-US routes'", UK Airport News (2007-10-29). Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
^ Done, Kevin (2007-10-30). "BA initiative proves unpopular", The Australian. Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
^ "BA readies 'Project Lauren' for U.S. expansion", USA Today (2007-11-06). Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
^ ^a ^b "British Airways Completes Purchase of L'Avion", PR Newswire, Fox Business (2008-07-25). Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
^ "British Airways Fleet" (PDF). British Airways. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.

Contents

History

Service

Fleet

References

External links