BA OpenSkies

OpenSkies (airline code EC) is a venture aimed at business travellers established by British Airways in 2008. The carrier is based in the US and flies from New York using Boeing 757s configured with premium economy and business class seating.

Ownership

OpenSkies is wholly owned by BA. BA bought French carrier L'Avion, which also uses the 757 in a two-class premium format, in July 2008 and has merged it with OpenSkies. Because of this, some OpenSkies aircraft have 24 business class seats (Biz Bed) and 40 premium economy (Biz Seat), while others have 12 Biz Beds and 72 Biz Seats.

Route Network

OpenSkies flies from New York JFK and Newark to Paris Orly. It has axed a route to Amsterdam Schiphol and has put plans to expand to other European airports on hold.

Other Information

The airline takes its name from the Open Skies treaty signed between the European Union and the US in 2007. This allowed any European airline to fly to the US from any point in the EU from March 2008. BA set up OpenSkies to take advantage of this liberalisation, but is so far the only major carrier to do so. BA based Open Skies in the US to avoid union-negotiated working practices and pay rates agreed with existing employees.