Competition at London City

One-day wonder!

Also consider that Odyssey is still a “paper airline.” Will it get off the ground ?

As readers may know London City (LCY) has performance limitations and all aircraft must meet strict noise restrictions.

Who knows whether or not the Bombardier CS100 will be able to meet LCY’s requirements ?

As Business Traveller has reported in the past, all-business class carriers (with the exception, so far, of BA’s LCY-JFK service) flying out of London have a chequered history. Not a single one has survived despite offering lower fares and good onboard comfort and service.

The A318 can comfortably fly from London to New York non-stop. The issue is the runway at LCY, which is too short to allow a fully laden A318 to take off.

A quick check of the estimated performances of the new C-Series shows that even when filled to the brim with fuel, it would be able to safely take off from LCY’s short runway.
However, with an estimated range of only 2950nm, the aircraft would struggle to safely fly the over 3000nm to New York (especially if it encountered poor weather over the Atlantic, or was forced to hold over JFK for any amount of time).

Seems unlikely that Odyssey Airlines will have much success, unless Bombardier launch an extended range version of their C-Series.

According to this photo in Flight Global, Odyssey Airlines at least has a livery.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/paris-odyssey-confirmed-as-cseries-customer-387295/

Other tit bits from the same site:

Odyssey distances itself from previous all-premium attempts.
Odyssey Airlines’ premium business model will be “very different” from past failed premium carriers, says founder and chief executive Adam Scott….

Odyssey hints at Toronto-London City route.
Planned UK start-up carrier Odyssey Airlines is looking at launching new routes from London City airport to “restricted” markets such as Billy Bishop Toronto…

On 2nd June Flight Global published this article…
“Bombardier appears to name Odyssey as CSeries customer”.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/bombardier-appears-to-name-odyssey-as-cseries-customer-386570/

The interesting tit bit is that SWISS plan to fly the same aircraft into/from London City suggesting there will be no problems with noise..

Also since the date of June 2011 for the initial order by Odyssey is repeated across various articles suggesting it is not a misprint. That means this airline is likely to be up and running sooner than later.

Amended; More information about Odyssey published in Routes Online 17th June.
“Odyssey Airlines hints at Network Strategy with CSeries Deal”

http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/204467/odyssey-airlines-hints-at-network-strategy-with-cseries-deal/

The information about the airline is at the end of the article.

But anything I have read does not mention Shannon and the possibility of passing through US immigration there.
Do you have other information?

But one of the largest implications, will be the future of Cityjet, which is Not part of the 2015 AF/KLM strategy.

The loss making sub group of AF, have been looking for a buyer Since last year, Crews have been on strike several times as they were supposed to be told the future by Feb then May, and it is still uncertain.

This has major implications for KLM and AMS routes, that are almost always full, and have become and inmportant feed for the Hub for transit passengers, as well as regular business travellers.
Clearly, their question membership of Skyteam will be doubtful.

Further, some of the slots were originally of VLM, KLM, and some routes are run on codeshare.

Soi if Cityjet Goes, or is taken over and remains an entity of its own, will KLM or AF take Back their own routes? KLM could certainly deploy the Embraers in their CityHopper fleet to up the standard and capacity.
But it would seem pretty essential to maintain the Flights to Rotterdam, Amsterdam.

Any updates BT?

Hello transtaxman

It’s not exactly a “new” route. LH operated LCY-DUS until a few years ago. It failed to make a go of it so axed the route. I wonder if BA will fare any better ?