USAirways will finally launch its daily Gatwick-Charlotte service this summer.
The carrier, which only serves Philadelphia from the UK, has not set a launch date, but operations to its North Carolina gateway are expected to start within three months.
Flights will initially be on Boeing 767s, but from November the airline starts replacing Boeings with new three-class Airbus A330s on UK routes.
The Virginia-based carrier will compete with British Airways’ daily Gatwick service to Charlotte.
USAirways originally set a May 1998 launch date for the Charlotte flight after receiving US route rights a year ago, but claimed the Gatwick slots made available were not economically viable.
Before receiving acceptable slots, the airline demanded that the US authorities stop BA starting up its Gatwick-Denver flight until the UK gave it improved times.
This ploy meant BA did not start Denver services until last September and US Airways eventually got the Gatwick slots it wanted.