British Airways is planning to launch a Business Class-only service from London City airport to New York next year. The twice-daily flights will be operated by an Airbus A318 with just 32 seats. “This niche service will fly passengers between the heart of the two largest financial centres in the world,” explains Willie Walsh, British Airways’ chief executive. “London City airport is located minutes away from some of our key corporate customers and is in one of the fastest-growing areas of the capital.” He says BA will offer a 15-minute check-in for passengers travelling in both directions. "Once on board, customers will experience all the benefits of our Business Class cabin, including a fully flat bed. “The A318 is the perfect aircraft for these flights. It is capable of operating at London City and is large enough for us to provide the number of Business Class seats required to make this a viable operation,” says Walsh. However, the aircraft will not be able to carry a full load of fuel at London City, necessitating a refuelling stop en route. BA says it is looking at various options, including Shannon. Return flights will not be subject to the same restrictions and will, therefore, be non-stop. “The London-New York route is a key market for us and these flights will be in addition to our current Heathrow schedule, from where we fly eight times a day to JFK and three times a day to Newark,” adds Walsh. “As well as the business market, we are confident that there will also be a demand from premium leisure customers for this new service.” Click again...
Spanish low-fare carrier Clickair is to operate services to a fifth destination from the UK. From March 30, it will take over Iberia’s daily flights on the London Gatwick-Bilbao route, with one-way fares from £32 (€43). The airline already operates daily flights from Gatwick to Seville, as well as daily departures to both Valencia and La Coruña from Heathrow. It also flies three times a week between Edinburgh and Barcelona. Clickair, which is 20% owned by Iberia, will shortly launch its self-service online check-in process, Click&fly, for Gatwick passengers. Online check-in is already available for Heathrow flights. Cost-cutting flights
The first low-cost flights between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have been launched simultaneously by three carriers. AirAsia, Jetstar and Tiger Airways have all introduced services on the route following an agreement last November between the governments of the two countries to open it up to low-cost carriers. The new services increase the weekly total number of flights between the two cities to 254.
News in brief
EasyJet has completed its acquisition of GB Airways in a cash deal worth £103.5 million (US$201 million). The low-cost carrier claims to offer around 18% of all available short-haul seats from the UK and will now be the largest operator out of London Gatwick in passenger terms.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is planning to add four destinations on the Indian subcontinent – Chennai (Madras), Jaipur, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Kozhikode (Calicut) – following successful talks between the governments of the United Arab Emirates and India aimed at further liberalisation of air links between the two countries.
Air India is poised to become the 20th full member of the Star Alliance.
Blue1 starts a daily direct service from Helsinki to London Heathrow on March 30, replacing its existing service to Stansted airport in Essex.
Qatar Airways is adding a fourth daily non-stop flight between Doha and London Heathrow, increasing the airline's capacity between Qatar and the UK to 42 services a week. From March 30, the new late afternoon departure from Doha offers passengers more choice above the early morning and lunchtime flights to Britain’s busiest airport.
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