LONDON – British Airways PLC said its planned business-class only flight from London’s City Airport, a 14-minute train ride from the city’s financial district of Canary Wharf, to New York will allow passengers to complete U.S. arrival checks in Ireland.

The airline said that the route’s refueling stop at Shannon airport, in western Ireland, will double as the port where passengers will go through U.S. immigration checks, so they’ll be able to skip them when they land in New York, and speed straight into the city.

BA said that travelers would also save time because they will be required to arrive at London City Airport 15 minutes before departure time.

“Many city workers will be able to get from desk to aircraft in as little as 30 minutes,” said BA’s commercial director Robert Boyle.

The airline first announced plans to launch twice-daily business class flights between London City and New York in January.

The new route is scheduled to start flying in autumn of next year. It will be the only long-haul flight offered in and out of London City Airport, which generally serves European destinations.

Eastbound flights – from New York into London – will be nonstop.

BA operates 10 flights per day between London’s biggest airport, Heathrow, and New York; and it runs a once-daily service from London’s Gatwick Airport to New York.

WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:

British Airways PLC said its planned business-class only flight from London’s City Airport, a 14-minute train ride from the city’s financial district of Canary Wharf, to New York will allow passengers to complete U.
The airline said that the route’s refueling stop at Shannon airport, in western Ireland, will double as the port where passengers will go through U.
It will be the only long-haul flight offered in and out of London City Airport, which generally serves European destinations.