June 6, 2007

US & CANADA | EUROPE

Class Warfare

By Tiffany Hawk

Branson's at it again — this time, it's transatlantic service for deep-pocket passengers.

The classes used to be kept apart by curtains. Now they get their own airlines. Virgin — whose low-cost domestic service is set to launch later this month in San Francisco — has just announced something for the haves: an all-business class airline. Richard Branson’s answer to EOS, Silverjet and l’Avion, is expected to offer increased frequency, and if all of his airlines work together, a worldwide network within 18 months. Although aircraft are yet to be ordered, Virgin has reportedly been in talks with Boeing, Airbus and more surprisingly Embraer and Bombardier, both known for regional jets, which might suggest a commuter-sized — one might say private-jet sized — cabin. Let’s hope they have room for onboard bars and massage tables. Large or small, their planes will be going the distance. Thanks to the recent Open Skies agreement between the E.U. and the U.S., the new airline will begin linking New York with London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan and Zurich. And British Airways’ answer to all this? Word is: their very own all-business class brand.