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UK's Club Airways to serve executives on European routes

Club Airways, a startup airline that will offer only business-class flights within Europe, plans to start flying next week.

It will fly from Geneva to Le Bourget, outside Paris, and to Farnborough, England, as well as between Le Bourget and Farnborough using six Bombardier Inc Learjet 45s from next Monday, said Hans Schwab, the airline's co-founder and chief executive officer.

"We're targeting chief executives who want to avoid overcrowded terminals," said Schwab. "Executives are realizing that business travel just isn't the same anymore. We want to make executives' life less unpleasant. We're outside of the crowd."

Europe's airlines have been cutting business-class service and fares as budget-conscious executives switch to flying economy class or using discount carriers amid a stagnating economy.

Corporate travelers will increasingly opt for a purely business-class airline as service levels fall, Schwab said. The airline expects to break even within three months, the CEO said.

All passengers flying with Club Airways undergo a background check before being approved to fly with the airline, Schwab said.

Fares will start from 500 euros (US$527) to 1,000 euros before rising after a few weeks to fares that are 30 percent to 50 percent higher than the average business-class fare, he said.

Business travelers will pay more to avoid waiting times as they can board up to five minutes before takeoff.
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