EOS 2nd Anniversary!

Wall Street Journal - Trans-Atlantic Rivals Pose Challenge to Big Airlines
Upstart Eos Airlines Inc. said it plans to add two routes between the East Coast and Europe, as competition intensifies for the major carriers' best passengers.The move is the latest sign that a small band of all-business-class trans-Atlantic airlines are winning passengers with roomier seating, more on-board amenities and moderate ticket prices. But as the major airlines wake up to this competition, the upstarts may be tested. Two-year-old Eos now serves London's Stansted Airport from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport with two to four round trips a day. While the closely held carrier still is losing money, it recently raised $50 million in new capital, expanded its fleet and won passenger plaudits. Next year, Eos plans to add flights to Paris from JFK and service to Stansted from Newark, N.J. Jack Williams, chief executive officer of Eos, acknowledges that the market across the Atlantic is "very competitive," but said the carrier has managed to ramp up daily flights while also filling more seats on each plane. Luke Mauro, a senior vice president of Instinet LLC, says he has taken about 25 business trips to London on Eos, and no longer uses Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. Eos "is reasonable, convenient, a great experience," he says. Eos has four leased 757s outfitted with 48 seats, instead of 220. They all recline into lay-flat beds. A fifth aircraft is being renovated to the Eos configuration and Mr. Williams, the CEO, says he hopes to have a dozen planes by the end of 2008