OpenSkies, British Airways' new transatlantic subsidiary, will operate its first flight between either Paris Charles de Gaulle or Orly and New York JFK, BA said in a filing and application for traffic rights with the US Dept. of Transportation. It also had considered Brussels as an initial European gateway (ATWOnline, Feb. 7). OpenSkies will fly with both the BA and its own EC code and plans to launch service in June. It said it intends to extend its European network to cities such as Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and Milan, "as well as other US points." It will take a second 757-200 this year and hopes to be operating six 82-seat 757s by the end of 2009.
But there could be trouble ahead, as BA pilots voted 86% in favor of strike action to protest the new carrier, which the British Air Line Pilots Assn. said would be a "Trojan horse to force down their own pay and conditions." A strike "would effectively ground BA worldwide," BALPA said. According to press reports, the two sides entered talks soon after BALPA's announcement. BA said it has "guaranteed" that OpenSkies constitutes no threat, while CEO Willie Walsh told Reuters he is "confident that a settlement can be achieved through conciliation."
ATWOnline
But there could be trouble ahead, as BA pilots voted 86% in favor of strike action to protest the new carrier, which the British Air Line Pilots Assn. said would be a "Trojan horse to force down their own pay and conditions." A strike "would effectively ground BA worldwide," BALPA said. According to press reports, the two sides entered talks soon after BALPA's announcement. BA said it has "guaranteed" that OpenSkies constitutes no threat, while CEO Willie Walsh told Reuters he is "confident that a settlement can be achieved through conciliation."
ATWOnline
