British Airways buys A318s for New York flights

British Airways has bought two new planes to use on its new route between London City Airport and New York.

The airline has purchased two Airbus A318s, the smallest of the A320 family of planes.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, said the aircraft were "perfect" for flights from city-based airports, which typically have shorter runways than other hubs.

"It is capable of operating at London City and is large enough for us to provide the number of business class seats required to make this a viable operation," he remarked.

British Airways announced earlier this year that it is to operate double-daily business class flights to New York from London City in 2009.

The airline is also set to launch a new route between London City and Dublin on June 1st 2008, with flights taking off three times a day.

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