Page 8 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 Online Magazine

COVER STORY

November 1978, but Qantas claims it was Harbison the global spilt for passenger
first in 1979. seating is: Economy 92.5%; Premium
Qantas’s Business Class on its 747s used Economy 1.7%; Business Class 4.20%; and
First Class seats from Trans Australian First Class 1.5%. However, notes Harbison,
Airlines DC-9s in a 2-4-2 configuration and those numbers are distorted by, for instance,
within a few years most international airlines American carriers calling their front end
had followed suit. domestic product First Class, whereas
Slowly but surely the configuration in most cases it is more a Business Class
became more spacious and the recline product.
greater with seats such as the cradle from That split is in stark contrast to premium
British Airways in the early 1990s. That was product leaders Singapore Airlines and
followed by the angled flat bed and finally the Cathay Pacific Airways. Singapore is: 85.5%
flat bed. Economy Class; 0.3% Premium Economy,
First Class was always a step ahead but 13% Business Class and 1.2% First Class.
once the Business Class offering reached Cathay Pacific Airways which unlike
flatbed status the future of the pointiest Singapore Airlines has had Premium
part of the aircraft was in doubt. In reality it Economy in place for some time has a more
had been on the wane for decades as cost heavily weighted split to the premium
conscious high flyers saw the value of the end thus: Economy Class 78.6%, Premium
Business Class offering increase. Economy 5.7%; Business Class 15%; and
Many airlines, such as Air New Zealand, 0.7% First Class.
ditched First Class long ago and that often The other high flyers are Emirates and TOP LEFT AND mIDDLE: The
was done with the introduction of Premium British Airways with 15.2% of premium seats industry has come round a full
circle and the Business Class
Economy to tap the emerging market for and 18.4% respectively. These numbers are product on most airlines today,
those feeling the squeeze in economy. about twice that of most European airlines comparable to the First Class
So in most cases the industry has according to the Centre for Aviation. cabin offerings a decade ago, with
managed to come full circle with Business But the real standout for premium seats fully flat beds, large screens and
enhanced privacy
Class essentially First Class for the majority is Air New Zealand which on its flagship
of airlines and certainly in the customer eyes Boeing 777-300ERs has 144 premium RIGhT: The slow-uptake in orders
with the Premium Economy offering now (including Skycouch) and 184 standard for the A380 and gradual decline
better than the original Business Class of Economy seats – an amazing mix given the in 747 fleets, means that sights
like a bar counter with bartender
1979. economic dynamics and location of New in the sky are unlikely to be
According to Centre for Aviation’s Zealand. commonplace into the next decade
8 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA