British Midland (BM) has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DoT) for an exemption from the UK/US air services agreement to allow it to launch transatlantic services in late March 2000.
The UK airline is initially seeking approval for the London Heathrow-New York Kennedy route. To introduce the service, the airline needs an exemption from the present UK/US Bermuda II air services agreement, a successor to which has been the subject of lengthy negotiations between the two countries. Formal negotiations on a new agreement are due in Washington next month.
The airline has been licensed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to serve New York, Washington DC, Miami and Boston from London. The New York route is its priority.
BM has options on two Boeing 767-300s and two Airbus A330-200s for delivery in 2000. The infrastructure is in place at Heathrow to launch the services, says the airline. BM holds 14% of the slots at the London airport and would "adjust its Heathrow operations" to accommodate transatlantic services. No decisions have been made on a codeshare partner for the US routes, the airline adds.
In its application to the DoT, BM argues that since three US carriers - American Airlines, United Airlines and Continental Airlines - are permitted to sell seats on Heathrow-New York services, BM should be added as a UK carrier, joining British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. BM says the UK Government has granted exemptions to US carriers outside the scope of the Bermuda II agreement.
Source: Flight International
