BA unveils LCY-New York launch date

Published: 22/06/2009 - Filed under: News »

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British Airways has confirmed it will launch its all-business class flights from London City to New York on September 29. Tickets for the service go on sale tomorrow (Tuesday June 23).

BA will initially ply the route once daily, except on Saturdays (when the airport is closed for a 24-hour period from 1pm), and the carrier says this will increase to a twice-daily service from mid-October.

The outbound legs will depart LCY at 1240 (and 1600 when the second daily flight commences), arriving into JFK at 1705 and 2025 respectively. The inbound services will leave New York at 1830 and 2150, landing back in London at 0705 and 1025 the next day.

On the outbound leg the flight will stop for refuelling in Shannon (where customers will be able to clear US Customs and Immigration), while the inbound flights will be non-stop.

BA says weekend leisure fares will start from as little as £1,910.10 return, although lead-in business fares will start from £4,912.10, rising to £5,625.10 for a fully-flexible business class fare.

The 1240 departure flight from LCY has been given the flight code BA001, an honour previously reserved for BA’s Concorde flights. The route will be plied with A318 aircraft, the first time the plane has been used at London City, configured with 32 fully-flat seats.

Willie Walsh, British Airways’ chief executive said: “In the harshest trading environment airlines have experienced, we believe it is more important than ever to embrace the future and innovate. That is what this historic new route is all about.

“There is real enthusiasm from our customers for this project. This is BA at its best – stylish, British and ahead of the game. Reviving the BA001 flight number for the first longhaul route out of London City could not be more appropriate.

“Every aspect of this service has been designed to maximise convenience for customers to fly between the world’s two biggest business centres – Wall Street and London’s extended financial district in the City and Docklands.

“The UK’s first web access on transatlantic flights means that customers can work and keep in touch with the office between London and New York via the email and texts. Above all the exclusive service style will bring the feel of a private jet to a business class cabin.”

For more information visit ba.com.

Report by Mark Caswell

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