BA chief adamant New York route will succeed

By Rob Virtue on October 5, 2009 12:03 PM |

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"A bold move" was how British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh described the launch of flights from the heart of Docklands to New York this week.

However, the first of the 32-seat flights took to the skies from City Airport on Tuesday with some doubting the wisdom of starting a new business class route in a recession.

Outside the airport, meanwhile, green activists registered their own disapproval of the expansion.

When asked whether the decision was a gamble, Walsh told The Wharf: "It was always a bold move by BA but then it's what people expect of us.

"This route is something people have been asking for. The fact we've gone ahead today backs the fact we think it will be a success.

"We believe it's going to be profitable in its first year of operation."

Walsh suggested the recent drop in private jet usage at London City would benefit the new service.

"One of the markets targeted are people who have previously used executive jets, as they are used to the ease of travel," he said.

Airlines have attempted a business class only route from Luton and Stansted to New York in the past but none with any success.

However, Walsh believes the central location of London City will prove the difference.
With BA's subsidiary Cityflyer also investing in a new fleet of aircraft for the Docklands airport, the chief executive stressed the importance of City to the carrier's future success.

He said: "We introduced the first of Cityflyer's new fleet yesterday. That and this new route to New York shows we are committed to London City Airport and that's because this airport is key to the future of BA."

The new route is already promising to increase business in the Wharf area, with BA passengers able to use the Marriott West India Quay's health facilities, while other Wharf hotels are hosting American entrepreneurs, journalists and tourism chiefs.

Flights will have to stop at Shannon enroute to the US for refuelling as the short runway at City means flights cannot fully refuel before take-off.

However, the detour will be used to get passengers through immigration checks, missing out on lengthy queues in New York.

The inaugural flight left City Airport just after midday last Tuesday in the first of twice daily routes to JFK, which start at nearly £2,000.

Meanwhile, Walsh boarded the A319 along with 31 other passengers, a group of anti-aviation campaigners gathered outside to protest as part of an ongoing campaign against London City expansion.