News: BA to launch premium service flights from Europe to US

Flights > News > # 1282 (23/05/2007)

British Airways is to launch a series of new business oriented transatlantic flights, from continental Europe to the US.
The flights, to be launched next summer, will comprise mainly of first and business class seats, and may also include some premium economy seating. The routes are expected to connect New York to several of Europe's major business centres.
The move, which will put BA head to head against the likes of Air France and Lufthansa, is part of a plan to take advantage of the new Open Skies agreement between the US and EU at the earliest opportunity.
A BA spokesman said the airline had decided to focus on the market in continental Europe as it believed it was already well covered between the US and UK in premium and non-premium markets. It is believed that BA plans to refurbish a handful of its smaller Boeing 757 or 767 planes to launch the venture.
Three airlines offering all-premium seating have launched over the last couple of years, US-based Eos and Maxjet, as well as British carrier Silverjet.