With no more than 82 passengers on each flight, OpenSkies will offer a unique travel experience between Paris’ Orly Airport and New York’s JFK Airport. The company’s simplified pricing approach is designed to provide true value for money compared with what has been traditionally offered by the long-time incumbent carriers operating on the Paris-New York route. OpenSkies will feature three cabins: Biz℠, a business class service featuring the only fully lie-flat beds in that market will be offered at prices starting at EUR2269 roundtrip; Prem+℠, a completely new service category featuring reclining seats with a 52” pitch will be offered from EUR1159 roundtrip; and economy, featuring a cabin containing only thirty seats that will be offered at prices beginning at EUR830 roundtrip. Prices include fuel, insurance and security surcharges and have limited availability but require only seven days advance purchase.

- Transatlantic travelers looking for a comfortable and intimate in-flight experience will have a place in the skies to call home,” said Dale Moss, Managing Director of OpenSkies. “We’re excited about connecting customers in two of the world’s great business and cultural capitals on the first new airline borne out of the Open Skies agreement. With 6-foot, fully-flat beds in business class, personal entertainment units with more than 50 hours of programming throughout all cabins, and a healthy, creative menu, we’re focused on delivering value and creating a memorable, personal travel experience on every trip. And our new Prem+ cabin will compete with what our competitors offer as business class but at a much more compelling price point.”

OpenSkies will initially operate one daily round-trip flight on a fuel-efficient Boeing 757. A second Boeing 757 is scheduled to join OpenSkies later this year from the British Airways fleet and it is planned that there will be six OpenSkies aircraft in total by the end of 2009. OpenSkies plans to serve additional routes from European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and Milan to New York.

OpenSkies received approval to begin operations from the U.S. Department of Transportation last week. It is the first airline created as a result of the Open Skies agreement, which allows airlines to fly between any U.S. and E.U. destination.

About OpenSkies

OpenSkies is a premium transatlantic airline that will offer guests superior service, competitive fares and exceptional value. OpenSkies will initially fly between Paris – Orly Airport and New York – JFK Airport, with plans for routes from additional European cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Milan to New York. The airline will offer guests innovative features onboard, including lie-flat beds in business class, personal entertainment units with 50+ hours of programming, and fresh, healthy and creative meal service. Backed by British Airways, OpenSkies is the first-ever airline created as a result of the Open Skies agreement, which allows airlines to fly between any U.S. and E.U. destination.

All fares require a 7 day advance purchase. Economy fares valid for peak summer travel season. Prem+ fares must be booked by June 16, 2008 with travel completed by Aug 31, 2008. A Saturday night stay is required for Biz and economy fares. Weekend surcharges apply for economy travel. Change/Cancel fees are as follows: Biz not permitted; Prem+ and economy: EUR100.

Sist oppdatert: 22.05.08 14:16