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OpenSkies

OpenSkies
OpenSkies.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
EC BOS MISTRAL
Founded 2008
Hubs Orly Airport
Frequent-flyer program Executive Club
Alliance Oneworld (affiliate)
Fleet size 4
Destinations 3
Company slogan The transatlantic airline, par excellence
Parent company International Airlines Group
Headquarters Rungis, France
Key people Patrick Malval (CEO)
Website www.flyopenskies.com

OpenSkies is a transatlantic airline owned by British Airways (BA) that is headquartered in Rungis near Paris. The airline launched as a brand of BA European Limited in June 2008 but in April 2009 the name was transferred to Elysair (which had operated as L'Avion). The airline is a full-service carrier and offers three class service cabins on board its aircraft. The airline currently operates between Paris-Orly Airport in France and both Newark Liberty International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in the United States.

British Airways wanted to reduce its dependence on its Heathrow Airport hub by flying between the United States and cities in continental Europe. This only became possible after the open skies treaty between the United States and the European Union came into effect, allowing any airline to fly between airports in the two regions starting in March 2008. The routes that OpenSkies flies are only possible because of the EU-US Open Skies Agreement, which permits any American or EU airline to operate services to and from any EU or American location. The availability of landing slots limits the impact of the agreement at certain airports, such as London Heathrow Airport. BA European Limited, trading as Openskies, holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence. This permits the airline to carry passengers, cargo, and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats. The operating licence was suspended on 6 May 2009 for three months following the transfer of the name to Elysair, at BA European's request.

OpenSkies' first flight, from New York, was on 19 June 2008, using a single Boeing 757 transferred from the BA fleet.


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