First, we passed our proving flight with flying colors as of 5:33 UK time yesterday we received our AOC from the CAA (Air Operators Certificate and Civil Aviation Authority for those keeping up on acronyms)!

Last week, I posted about embarking on our proving flight: an exciting and tense time. We had to make sure every “i” is dotted and “t” is crossed. Inspectors combed over every detail, making sure our plane and crew are ready to fly.

The CAA Flight Operation Inspector complimented our team on their thoroughness and professionalism. We flew a route over North Scotland and over Iceland to demonstrate our oceanic flight procedures before returning to UK airspace.

Secondly, we’re re-routing to Orly!

If you remember, we announced on February 21 that we planned to be flying from John F. Kennedy (JFK) to Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Even after that announcement we were working hard to obtain slots at our preferred airport, Orly. Just this week we got them through a codeshare agreement with L’Avion and made the switch. All of which becomes official once we secure all of our regulatory approvals. We chose Orly because it is more conveniently located to the center of Paris and offers faster access to and from the city than CDG. The distance from Orly to central Paris is roughly 19km or 12m, whereas the distance from CDG to central Paris is roughly 28km or 17m.

5 miles can make all the difference—especially in rush hour.

More headlines as they happen,

Dale

I can’t think of a better way to launch our new airline then by linking two of the world’s business and cultural capitals together. So no matter what type of business you’re in, we’ll get you there rested and ready for that meeting—or for that fantastic cuisine, museum exhibit, or stroll along the Seine.

We also plan to be the first airline to have 180° flatbeds in business class between Paris and New York. But no matter which of our classes you fly, a fresh approach to personalized service and premium comfort are part of the experience.

Dale