The latest entrant to the business class only London ” New York market has been showing off its first Boeing 767 wide bodied jet in the sky above Luton Airport ” painted in silver. The airline, which listed on AIM in May, has made a record entry as a scheduled airline. With the subsequent purchase of Gatwick-based Flyjet, already established as a an international passenger airline, it gave the embryo carrier immediate access to an Air Operator”s Certificate (AOC), plus operating and route licences. The inaugural flight between Luton and Newark airports has been set for Thursday 25 January.
In its pre-first flight publicity Silverjet claims that its Silver Class is unlike any other flying experience in the world. ”It”s designed to eradicate as many annoying and disruptive aspects of modern air travel as possible. It starts on the ground, and it doesn”t stop. We've effectively abolished 'check in' as you know it, so you can arrive at the airport just 30 minutes before departure. Everyone can choose their seat in advance, and if you are travelling alone, we”ll leave the seat beside you empty if we can.”
Silverjet is offering Newark in New Jersey as its New York terminus, rather than the more popular Kennedy. The airline is directly competing with Eos and Maxjet out of Stansted to JFK and the business class offerings of American Airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic at Heathrow.
Silverjet will operate a twin aisle 100-seat Boeing 767 with specially designed 75-inch (191 cm) flat bed seats. Presently fares start from ”799 ($1574) inclusive ” well under half the Gatwick and Heathrow cost with the main line carriers.