Start-up carrier Odyssey Airlines has taken the next step towards launching all-business class transatlantic flights from London City airport, with the launch of a crowdfunding drive.
Business Traveller first reported on Odyssey’s plans for a business class-only service between LCY and New York back in 2011 (read our report here), and until recently there had been few updates from the start-up.
But the carrier is now back in the headlines with the launch of a drive on equity-based crowdfunding website Crowdcube, which confirms that:
“Odyssey Airlines Limited (“Odyssey”) is a new business class airline venture that aims to be the first and only airline to operate non-stop transatlantic services from London City Airport.
“Over five million has been invested to date including influential investor Jon Moulton.”
According to the Crowdcube website (as of May 6), £261,980 has been raised of the initial £1 million funding target.
Odyssey’s Facebook page says that it aims to “begin offering premium non-stop business class services direct from London City Airport to other major cities worldwide from 2016”, using new Bombardier CSeries aircraft fitted with “the longest fully flat beds in the commercial market”.
If the carrier is successful in launching flights between LCY and New York, it would compete with British Airways’ existing all-business class service.
BA uses A318 aircraft on the route, stopping in Shannon airport on the outbound flight to refuel, but Odyssey says it would offer a non-stop service.
Mark Caswell
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