British Airways' transatlantic business operation OpenSkies has started integrating the Boeing 757-200s of French carrier L'Avion into its fleet.
The first L'Avion twin-jet, F-HAVI, is being painted in the OpenSkies livery, but retaining an acknowledgement to L'Avion through a violet fuselage lettering, while the nose carries the name 'Violette'.
OpenSkies is reconfiguring the interior of the French aircraft, and rebranding its cabin layout to reflect the all-business product. The cabin with lie-flat seats will be branded 'Biz Bed' while the former 'Prem+' cabin will be known as 'Biz Seat'.
Managing director Dale Moss says the change will "better convey the fact that, no matter the cabin, you'll experience business-class excellence".
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The carrier will retain only the OpenSkies name once the integration is complete, and cabin crew will have a new uniform by September.
Although OpenSkies' ex-British Airways 757s have 64 seats, Moss previously told Flightglobal sister publication Air Transport Intelligence that the two L'Avion 757s would be refitted with 82 seats, comprising 12 in the 'Biz Bed' cabin and 70 in 'Biz Seat'. Passengers will also have access to portable Archos in-flight entertainment systems.
British Airways has confirmed that its 11 remaining mainline 757s will not go to OpenSkies but instead be sold for cargo conversion. Moss insists that while OpenSkies' expansion is on hold, British Airways' decision to sell the 757s does not indicate a loss of confidence in the all-business carrier.
"If the British Airways aircraft aren't in the air generating revenue, now is the time to sell them to the highest bidder and get them off the balance sheets," he says.
"This is OK by us. We have assessed the market for 757s and believe that there are plenty available with the proper configuration when we decide to grow in the future."
Source: Flight International
