BA to Offer Further Details on Plans for New Transatlantic Airline

British Airways next week is slated to unveil the details of its plans for a new, separately branded transatlantic airline serving the U.S. with nonstop flights from cities outside the U.K.

The business-oriented carrier would fly from several European cities to an East Coast U.S. city, presumably New York if it is able to obtain the necessary slots at Kennedy. European cities mentioned as possible origins and destinations include Brussels, Paris, Milan, Rome and Frankfurt.

BA’s separately branded service would be offered on 757 aircraft with two or three classes. One of those definitely would be a business class with a lie-flat seat. Another would be premium economy, but British Airways has not yet revealed whether regular economy would be part of the product as well.

British Airways CEO Willie Walsh has said the service would start in mid-2008 or fall 2008.