La Compagnie (B0, Paris Orly) will take delivery of a second B757-200 next month ahead of a planned launch of direct London to New York flights in March next year.

CEO Frantz Yvelin told the Nasdaq newswire that the decision to move into the British market was taken following an exhaustive study. While the airline has applied for London Gatwick slots, it is also considering London Stansted and London Luton operations, he said.

Launched in June, La Compagnie operates a single B757-200 wet-leased from Icelandair (FI, Reykjavik Keflavik) on flights from Paris CDG to New York Newark with a second due next month. The aircraft is configured with 74 business class seats.