Boutique French airline La Compagnie is to fly to New York Newark three times a week from April 24, with the intention of daily flights by the end of this year.
The flights went on sale yesterday (February 3), with special launch fares from £1,007 including taxes for two people travelling together and a ‘Solo Intro’ fare of £649.
La Compagnie, which launched in July last year, already flies between Paris Charles de Gaulle and New York Newark. The airline was founded by Frantz Yvelin – who launched trans-Atlantic carrier L’Avion – and Peter Luethi, the former chief operating officer at Swissair and JetAirways.
London Luton chief executive Nick Barton said: “We are delighted that La Compagnie has chosen London Luton Airport for its new business class service to New York.
“The announcement comes at an exciting time for London Luton with record passenger numbers achieved in 2014 and a £100million transformation programme starting in 2015.”
La Compagnie use redesigned Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a total 74 lie-flat seats in a 2×2 configuration in a spacious, single aisle cabin.
Passengers receive in-flight amenity kits including cosmetic products from natural French skincare brand Caudalie. The in-flight meals feature seasonal menus created by acclaimed French chef Christophe Langrée. Each seat has a personal Samsung Galaxy Pro 12” tablet, which can be removed from the seat backs, uploaded with an assortment of e-books, magazines, music and the latest movies.
Mr Yvelin said: “It is time to bring business-class air service back to where it belongs, where personalised service is offered at respectable fares. La Compagnie is becoming the go-to choice of the current generation of hard-working business travellers who demand something more from air transportation.”
London Luton became the UK base of another business class only carrier Silverjet in 2006. The airline, which also flew to New York Newark, folded two years later.
