Eos is to launch new services from Paris to New York JFK next summer, as well as start London Stansted to Newark
The move comes as a raft of airlines expresses interest in transatlantic services from Paris, as the Open Skies deal kicks in from next March.
However, as an American company, EOS has no need of Open Skies as it will be able to start flights under the existing US-France bilateral.
”Obviously Paris is a strong, business-related market and is a growth progression for us,” EOS senior vice president Europe, John Morgan, told ABTN. It is something we have been looking at for a long time.”
Virgin Atlantic has been making noises about starting a business class only carrier from European destinations ” including Paris ” while British Airways says its New York-based operation ”will have a significant Club World cabin with flat beds.”
However, Morgan remains bullish that EOS can see off any newcomers: ”As far as we are concerned, we are pretty much in a category of one,” he said.
”While we always watch the competition, we respect competition, [but] we move into markets because we feel they are right.”
French carrier L”Avion, already operates Paris Orly Sud to Newark, but Morgan contends that it is rather Virgin Atlantic with its Upper Class proposition and BA with Club World, that is its competition. L”Avion has 90 business class only seats in a Boeing 757 aircraft, whereas Eos has 48.
Eos will add flights between Stansted and Newark from spring next year.