OpenSkies adds widebodies as 767 joins current 757 fleet

European carrier OpenSkies is to boost its transatlantic offering with the introduction of a single Boeing 767-300s into its fleet from this autumn. The airline will source the aircraft from its parent company, British Airways (BA) to increase capacity on its flights linking Paris Orly with New York John F Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International in the United States.

OpenSkies revealed earlier this month that the 767-300 would join its existing 757-200s from August 2016. Our Airline Route blog now confirms that schedules have been updated to include the new arrival with a first scheduled flight of the type due on August 19, 2016.

The aircraft will initially operate on the Paris Orly – Newark route flying ‘BA8003/BA8004’ on a twice weekly basis. This will grow to a four times weekly operation from September 18, 2016 and then five times weekly from October 6, 2016 through though to the end of the summer schedule at the end of that month.

The British Airways subsidiary said the arrival of the larger aircraft marks a new stage in the development of OpenSkies and will help strengthen its specialist positioning in the transatlantic market. The widebody will be configured with 24 Business Class, 24 Premium Economy and 141 Economy seats, offering 75 additional seats to the smaller single-aisle 757.

“We are very pleased to announce the incorporation of a fourth aircraft to our fleet with a higher capacity. The new aircraft marks a new stage in the OpenSkies development strategy, and demonstrates the importance of the British Airways subsidiary within the Group,” said Patrick Malval, managing director, OpenSkies.

The airline is coming under increasing competition in the Paris – New York market this year as Air France resumes flights between Paris Orly and New York JFK from June 6, 2016 using a 309-seat 777-200ER and Norwegian launches low-cost links from Paris Charles De Gaulle to New York JFK from July 29, 2016. This adds to the existing flights of Air France, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, La Compagnie and XL Airways on the Paris – New York city pair.