On a day when all of the airports are closed in the Washington, DC area, OpenSkies announced it’s inaugurating service between Dulles Airport and Orly Airport in Paris. It’s safe to assume that before May 3rd, the snow-covered runways in our Nation’s Capital will have been cleared.
OpenSkies, a premium class British Airways subsidiary expects to launch five weekly flights between Paris Orly Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. It anticipates increasing the number of flights soon after. The OpenSkies fleet is composed of four Boeing 757-200s airplanes that have been configured into two cabins. One section has twelve “Biz Bed” that convert into 180° fully flat beds. The remaining 60 seats have seats that recline 140-degree and have a 52-inch pitch.
In both sections, the service and the food make travelers feel as if they’re pampered guests and not riding in a cattle car.
Dale Moss, president of Open Skies, explained why Washington, D.C., was selected as the airline’s next city to serve. “This will enable OpenSkies to connect the capitals of France and the United States with a superior product and experience as enjoyed by the two countries.”
The greater Washington, D.C. area is now the 4th largest metropolitan area in the U.S., and one where the market has actually increased, during the current downturn in air travel.
My experience on OpenSkies has already sold me on the airline’s new service. I’m already reserving seats while the special fares, announced yesterday, haven’t been gobbled up. No one needs to preach to the converted.
Karen Fawcett is president of Bonjour Paris. She frequently commutes between Paris and Washington, D.C.
Karen Fawcett loves to travel anywhere. Karen was a founder & president BonjourParis.com while living in Paris for more than 25 years. She has traveled across Europe and the rest of the world. She is now based in Washington, DC.
