18 seconds ago 2009-11-28T17:35:43-08:00
LONDON – British Airways PLC said its planned business-class only flight from London's close-in City Airport to New York will allow passengers to save time by completing U.S. arrival checks in Ireland.
The airline said that the route's refueling stop at Shannon airport, in western Ireland, will double as the port where passengers will go through U.S. immigration checks, meaning they'll be able to skip them when they land in New York, and speed straight into town.
BA said that travelers from London's financial district would also save time because they will only be required to arrive at City Airport, quickly reachable by train, 15 minutes before departure time.
"Many city workers will be able to get from desk to aircraft in as little as 30 minutes," said BA's commercial director Robert Boyle.
The airline first announced plans to launch twice-daily business class flights between London City and New York in January, using a single-aisle Airbus A318 with 32 seats.
The new route is scheduled to start flying in autumn of next year. It will be the only long-haul flight offered in and out of London City Airport, which generally serves European destinations. Eastbound flights — from New York into London — will be nonstop.
BA already operates 10 flights per day between London's biggest airport, Heathrow, and New York; and it runs a once-daily service from London's Gatwick Airport to New York.
