BA slashes American air fares

British Airways yesterday entered the transatlantic air fares war by slashing the price of winter flights to the United States, writes Michael Harrison.

From October until the end of March next year BA is offering Apex return fares starting at pounds 229. The cheapest deals are on flights to New York, Newark, Washington and Boston.

A return fare to Chicago will be pounds 289 and to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle pounds 309. The prices bring BA's Apex fares into line with those offered by Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic.

BA is hoping that the new fares, together with the favourable pound/dollar exchange rate, will boost traffic on its transatlantic routes during the winter season.

A number of airlines have already cut their transatlantic fares sharply but only for passengers beginning their journeys in the US.