RobK From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 3932 posts, RR: 19 Posted (7 years 9 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1453 times:
I received this email from someone who shall remain unidentified after asking for some info on EOS.
The email extract below is posted with permission of the author. Use as you wish but remember I'm only the messenger.
RK
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[minor spelling editing]
Quote: This is the basic 411 on EOS.
Many of you might be aware just how much more expensive flying business overseas is from crossing the US continent. While a business flight from SFO to NYC will cost you 2k, the same ticket on a NYC-LHR flight will run you around 8k, all while the distances travelled are roughly the same. There is some immense profit to be made overseas. These folks bought a bunch of 757's, which as you might gather are pretty much ideal for such distances and way more economical to operate under these circumstances than, oh let’s say a 747. They gutted the planes and gutted I mean. Everything went out and in went 48 really posh lie-flat business seats. Sounds pretty cool and it is. Travellers get 21 sq feet of personal space – as opposed to the usual 16. Measure it out, that’s a hell of space. Tickets will be considerably cheaper as well, around 25% below the average business fare. Last thing I heard was that EOS would be quite happy if they made an average load of $4500x35 per flight. 35 seats out of 48 - sounds possible to me.
EOS prides themselves on service. Most of their cabin staff are being hired from outside the airline industry, hotels and such, even teachers (don’t ask me, I just thought it sounded funny). So is the catering, the Austrian's providing it have never been in aviation before. The onboard atmosphere is supposed to remind folks of those design hotels, think boutiques like the kimton (sp?). All seats face forward in a 12,24,12 configuration. The footrest is a companion seat, not some pull-out thingy like on some other airlines. The walls behind you are not attached to your seat, so you wont feel it if anyone walking by grabs for a hold. The armrest disappears when lying down flat, helping you to 24 vs the usual 21 inch width. It’s about little stuff like that.
EOS will transport around 96 people per day and from what I hear that’s about 6% of the daily business capacity going over the pond. There will be no plastic card frequent flyer bullshit. They will try to get to know you and make presents that they think you will like somewhere in the realm of $500. There will be a concierge and limo service, albeit with additional costs attached to the latter.
As for the terminal questions on airliners.net, EOS will use Varig's lounge at terminal 4 and later the new Emirates lounge. You will never get to see coach passengers and the jets will open about an hour before take-off for you to stroll onboard whenever you like. In London, a specific area in Stansted will serve EOS customers and the commute towards the city should be somewhat accelerated through extensive staff assistance.
ETOPS: There is a rule basically saying only certain airlines/aircraft can fly further than two hours or so away from an airport. New airlines typically cant do this, which would mean you’d have to fly a longer route along Canada to Europe and thus arrive later. EOS has actually done some landings in Keflavik yesterday to demonstrate they can handle this and are expected to have the necessary documents upon launch.
The CEO or President is a pretty wound-up ex BA head honcho and my impression is he is quite serious. His main fear seems to be that European's won’t accept narrow-body aircraft to go across the pond. We’ll see. I’m quite bullish on them.
ExPedia From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 49 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (7 years 9 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1369 times:
The economics are of a 75 with fares like this are spectacular, and a Greater London to Greater NYC pairing should be gold. Don't forget that with the death of Concorde there are a lot of mega-frequent transatlantic fliers who would love a little more "love". LH has demonstrated the potential with their DUS service - I bet this is another screaming success. Beyond points don't matter - LON/NYC have enough biz at this price point. Distribution strikes me as the only big challenge; they will need to buy off a lot of biz travel agencies to get the service in front of pax. A strong direct marketing push won't do it as this spend is controlled by the company or negotiated by the agency.
GARPD From UK - Scotland, joined Aug 2005, 2303 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (7 years 9 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1353 times:
Interesting indeed!
The 757 and business class seat setup is ideal. It has the legs to do so and will be much cheaper to operate in such a configuration than a widebody.
It'd also say that the fairly small payload it will carry with increased its range via decreased fuel burn so they are probably able to operate LHR-JFK nonstop?
ExPedia From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 49 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 years 9 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1350 times:
I believe the pairing is STN-EWR, but yes, a 75 with ETOPS is fine on that. As the initial email pointed out, they are demonstrating ETOPS compliance and conducting some ops in and out of KEF to show they are not just approved but ready.
TymnBalewne From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 912 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (7 years 8 months 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1237 times:
Any idea when EOS will start service? How many aircraft will they have in their fleet at start-up?
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From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 3932 posts, 
From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 49 posts, 
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From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 912 posts, 
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