UK budget airline Zoom sparked a possible transatlantic air fares war today by announcing a London-New York service starting at £129 one-way.
The airline, owned by Scots Hugh and John Boyle, will begin New York flights from Gatwick on June 21.
Zoom, which operates from five UK airports to Canada, said it planned to become the UK's leading low-cost transatlantic carrier.
Its move comes ahead of the new "open skies" deal which will see more US-Europe flights allowed from March 2008.
John Boyle said: "You cannot put a sheaf of paper between the prices charged by BA, Virgin and the American carriers on the New York route and it is high time that passengers had a better deal. We are offering savings of up to 70% on these flights."
He went on: "Our catchphrase is 'Now you're sitting comfortably' and we think this will appeal to people who, quite frankly, have been forced to pay outrageously high fares to fly between London and New York for too long.
"What's more, we are taking off a year ahead of any open skies deal."
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