AP Photo

by Barbara S. Peterson

British Air's spinoff, Open Skies, has secured landing slots at JFK, where it will launch service from the Paris-Orly airport on June 19. The subsidiary is using new rights under the "open skies" treaty with the EU, which allows European carriers to fly to any point in the U.S. from any point on the continent. Open Skies will offer three seating classes aboard a single 757; fares start at $1746 for business class, $720 for premium economy and $554 for economy (prices are one way based on a roundtrip purchase). Some of the perks? Fully flat-lying beds in business class, a new economy category called Prem+ that will feature reclining seats with a 52-inch pitch, personalized concierge services, and participation in the BA Executive Club.

Seemingly not one to rest on its wings, Open Skies will introduce a second plane from another European city (possibly Brussels) later this year. And BA's offspring doesn't end there; it's introducing business jet flights between Newark and London City Airport, the capital's closest airport, next year. The plane will seat only 32, though, so it's strictly a business class operation. Meanwhile, Air France is turning the tables--it has already started operating nonstop from L.A. into BA's turf, Heathrow Airport, under a code share deal with Delta. Alas, the launch fares for that service are now history.