EXISTING SERVICES

A number of narrow-bodied aircraft already ply the Atlantic. American Airlines and United, for example, operate a number of B757 services from regional points to the US East Coast, while Icelandair and Wow Air operate various narrowbodies between Europe and the East Coast but with a plane change in Reykjavik.

The difference is that these are older variants that, in the case of the B757s – a short-distance aircraft specifically adapted for transatlantic service – are somewhat long in the tooth. Range can be an issue. United’s B757s, when faced with strong headwinds flying west, have been known to divert to Gander in Canada for refuelling. Canada’s Westjet operates B737 services between Halifax in Nova Scotia and Glasgow, but it’s a shorter distance.