American Airlines links to Stansted
AMERICAN AIRLINES ANNOUNCE NEW YORK LINK FROM STANSTED
Stansted Airport has welcomed today’s announcement with great excitement that the world’s biggest airline, American Airlines – part of the one world alliance - is to start a new London connection between New York JFK and London Stansted Airport later this year.
The service, scheduled to start on 29 October will operate daily, increasing to twice daily from March 2008. The route will be operated by Boeing 767-300 aircraft, with capacity for 221 seats including 30 new Business Class.
“This is fantastic news for Stansted,” said Nick Barton, business development and planning director for Stansted Airport.
"We are the UK’s third largest airport, one of the top 50 in the world, so its fitting that the world’s largest airline has recognised the growth potential from here to develop its links to London.
“American Airlines will not only offer the first economy connection to the USA from Stansted for a number of years, but will give both business and leisure passengers direct access to their expansive route network from their JFK hub, which connects direct to nearly 200 destinations across the American and Caribbean served by American Airlines.
“Nearly 24 million people a year use Stansted and our passengers, together with the regional business communities, have been telling us for some time they want to see more long haul destinations from here. I’m sure today’s announcement that American Airlines are set to join our growing route network will be very well received across the region and wider South East.
“Pioneering American carriers, Eos airlines and Maxjet Airways, have had tremendous success with their unique products, offering bespoke business class services between Stansted and JFK since 2005; with Maxjet having since developed links to Washington D.C and Las Vegas, with Los Angeles set to join their network in August.
“The arrival of a full service airline, offering economy fares, will only compliment the existing long haul connections and further enhance the development of our transatlantic links.
“We’ve been in discussion with a number of airlines keen to tap into the long haul opportunities from Stansted, and have been quite open that future links to the USA and Asia are in our sights; so we’re delighted to be finally talking openly about one of those developments and look forward to supporting American Airlines as they prepare to launch their services from here.”