"This is an exciting new chapter in our history as, for the first time, we will be flying directly between continental Europe and the US, " British Airways' chief executive Willie Walsh said in a statement on the BA.com Web site.
David Soskin, chief executive of cheapflights.com, which directs many of its visitors to the BA Web site, says Walsh's restructuring had been inevitable and more could be expected.
Bob Atkinson of travel website travelsupermarket.com said the one million passengers booked to travel with BA over Christmas and the new year "can now breathe a sigh of relief and carry on with their travel plans".