OpenSkies bookings ahead of expectations

The primarily premium class subsidiary of British Airways, OpenSkies, is seeing a level of bookings that exceeds projections for this period.

British Airways spokesman Richard Tams delivered this unexpected good news in remarks during an interview with ABTN. At that time he also confirmed that BA’s acquisition of L’Avion is on track as well.

OpenSkies launched its Paris to New York service last month, when a new treaty between the EU and US allowed BA to take advantage of relaxed restrictions on transatlantic routes.

Other business and executive class airlines, including Eos, MAXJet and Silverjet have all gone out of business recently, but by Tams’s report, the OpenSkies business model is more flexible and should prove to be sustainable.

Alluding to the problems that business class carriers have face, he commented: “You have to face the fact that for 17 out of 52 weeks, you are dealing with a holiday either on Monday or Friday on one side of the Atlantic or the other.”

“For OpenSkies, that’s why we have a three-class product on board.”

The airline operates a fleet comprising B757 aircraft that have been configured with 24 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats and 30 traditional economy seats.

OpenSkies parent company British Airways paid £54 million recently in order to acquire L’Avion, a former OpenSkies code share partner.

www.flyopenskies.com