WhichBudget Press Release, 19 April 2007

OPEN SKIES MEANS SMALL FARES FOR LONG HAUL

London-New York has become the busiest intercontinental air route in the world, with more than 30 flights each way, every single day. By next spring, the "open skies" agreement will allow all EU or American carriers to fly from anywhere in Europe to the US and this route is set to become even busier.

If you are feeling a sense of déjà-vu, that's understandable. A decade ago, the skies of Europe were similarly opened up and fares plunged thanks to Ryanair and easyJet - the highest flyers in this arena.

And so the bargain trans Atlantic air fares story begins....
We have already seen three low-cost business-only airlines take off: EOS and Maxjet who fly from Stansted to New York JFK and Silverjet who use the Luton to Newark route. With fares starting at £999, travellers enjoy savings of thousands of pounds.

But economy class is set to become truly economical. Just the other day, in a blaze of publicity, Ryanair announced their 'intention' to release a £7 ticket from Stansted to Long Island within 3 years (in reality this is £175 after all the taxes and levy add-ons) despite having previously asserted that long-haul is 'not the Ryanair model'.

For now though the front-runner is Canadian Airline, Zoom, who are selling tickets for the round trip Gatwick and New York JFK for travel from 21st June 2007. Fares start at a ludicrously low £229 return. Plus as the pound seems stuck on the $2 to £1 mark shoppers can look forward to cheap jeans and ipods, when they get there. Trans-Atlantic travel is coming of low-cost age!

To find out who flies to the US from your local airport click www.whichbudget.com and search for your flight.

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