Page 11 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 Online Magazine

COVER STORY

“So there’s only a certain amount of room notch business class, with Qantas in second will not go as far as Etihad’s but will be a step
to manoeuvre between being sufficiently place for premium economy,” says Flynn. up for the current offering which is superb and
better than economy – enough to warrant Air New Zealand is tops in Premium “commercially viable” according to Emirates
the extra price tag – while staying well Economy, according to AirlineRatings.com taking a not subtle dig at its UAE cousins.
south of the pointy end. Premium economy editors in their 2016 awards and the airline And that is the key. Etihad’s First Class is
will continue to be about the legroom, has previously won its Best Business Class on a handful of A380s only whereas Emirates
the recline, the wider seats and larger IFE for the ratings site. In fact Air New Zealand has 70 with 70 more coming and whatever the
screens and AC/USB sockets, plus extras has a cabinet full of awards for its inflight airline does has to make economic sense.
like meals drawn from the business class product including Economy Class. Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’
menu selection, amenity kits and of course And Flynn notes that there is a raft of divisional senior vice president of commercial
little touches like the champagne on take-off. launches due this year in the business class operations for the Middle East told Traveller.
Airlines may need to give some ground on space from Cathay Pacific’s refreshed com.au last year that the new product would
formerly premium-only perks such as airport A350 business class to Qatar’s much- debut in the A380 and then the 777.
lounge access,” suggests Flynn. hyped ‘super business class’, and both of The airline had hoped to unveil the
those will be ones to watch. product late last year but that has slipped
So Who is Best in Class? With the introduction of more private into the first quarter of the year.
Flynn gives top marks to Singapore Airlines business class flat beds the last important According to Al Mualla the pricing will
and Qatar Airways and says their Business advantage of First Class is disappearing and be “almost the same pricing and it should be
Class seats or beds are arguably as good as only the name sets it apart. The exception more commercially viable for passengers.”
some first class seats, “and demonstrably is Etihad Airways with its First Class suites And that is the difficult bit – giving
better than most first class seats of 10+ and of course the unique three-room premium passengers more for less in a
years ago.” Apartment. challenging financial climate.
“I’d rate Singapore Airlines as having What will set the trend for the future is With most Business Class beds now flat
the world’s best business class, in its latest how Emirates responds as it is the world’s and Premium economy in an ideal space, the
Boeing 777-300ER products, and the world’s largest international airline and has the innovation challenge for airlines may come
best premium economy. Cathay Pacific, Qatar largest First Class equipped fleet. down to the little extras that can’t be counted
Airways and Etihad Airways also have top- The expectation is the First Class product rather than the things that can.
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