Odyssey Airlines’ Launch May Spell Trouble for British Airways

A soon to be launched British airline, Odyssey Airlines, is likely to emerge as a new rival to British Airways on an all-business class route to New York City. With its launch shrouded in mystery, the airline plans to offer non-stop all-business class flights from London city to New York initially. However, the airline is not expected to start operations before 2014 or 2015.

This mysterious airline for which no official information has come forth, is predicted to challenge British Airways which also operates twice daily all business class flights to New York. Online news reports indicate that Odyssey has plans to use Bombardier’s CSeries jets which are more advanced than the Airbus narrow body planes currently being used by BA.

The use of CSeries jet will eliminate the necessity of fuel stop for those taking flights to New York. BA’s A318 plying from London City airport to New York currently stop to refuel in Ireland because these can't carry enough gas to complete transatlantic travel in one go.

Focussed on the corporate travellers, Odyssey may not be a great choice for most leisure holiday makers who seek tickets on cheap flights. Even those leisure business class travellers who seek tickets on cheap business class flights are not likely to form a large customer base for Odyssey.

Additionally, this mysterious fledgling carrier is expected to tempt executive flyers off the business class travel companies such as NetJets.

However, in the past, numerous all-business airlines have foundered against the high costs such as Canada's Roots Air, U.S. based Maxjets and UK based Silverjet and Odyssey’s path may also be riddled with challenges.

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