Premium economy ➔
Seat reservations But the expansion of airlines with premium economy cabins is not seen as necessary by some observers. Says ATPI’s Gary Hance: “Looking at our figures as far back as 2010, we have noticed a slight spike in bookings for premium economy, but as a whole, these figures are generally on the decline. Alternatively, business class has remained steady and constant, leading weight to the argument that any noticeable demise of this class has been largely exaggerated.” Stewart Harvey, HRG’s group commercial
director, takes the opposite view. “The general picture is of an industry in slow but steady recovery,” he says. “However, despite the improved view, there is still a focus on cost by our clients and an increase in the use of economy fares.” Harvey continues, “Belt-tightening is
also extending to cabin classes on many long-haul destinations. HRG reports that while some transactions are up on the previous year… business class bookings remained flat, with the majority of the year-on-year rise accounted for by
Top left: SAS Scandinavian Airlines Left: British Airways
PREMIUM ECONOMY SERVICES FROM THE UK Separate cabin
KEY Direct routes from the United Kingdom Aircraft type
Seat pitch (inches) Onboard wifi Priority boarding
AIR NEW ZEALAND (Winner of the best premium economy class award in the 2013 Skytrax World Airline Awards) London Heathrow to Auckland via Los Angeles B777-300
Yes 42in No Yes
Meal service: Enhanced, featuring award-winning Kiwi wines and wide-ranging menus. On demand snacks available via personal touch screen. Over a dozen special meal options for those with special dietary needs
www.airnewzealand.co.uk
ANA ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS London Heathrow to Tokyo B777-300
Yes
economy and premium economy fares.” Few in the travel industry would care to predict the fortunes of both business class and premium economy at the dawn of a new year. Much will depend on how the British economy performs, and here recent research by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) echoes Stewart Harvey’s assessment. Says Catherine McGavock, GBTA’s
regional director for Europe: “After six consecutive quarters of decline, Europe has finally turned the corner. Challenges remain, but we cannot ignore the economic progress that has been made and the impact this will have on international travel across Western Europe. “In 2014, we expect the largest annual
growth in business travel spending in more than six years,” adds McGavock. This includes the GBTA forecast that UK business travel, which reached £25.7billion in 2013, will pick up pace, rising by a further 2.9 per cent. Let the good times roll, whether staff
discover the growing benefits of this increasingly attractive ‘mongrel’ class or continue to insist on travelling further forward in the aircraft.
CATHAY PACIFIC London Heathrow to Hong Kong B777-300ER
Yes
38in
No
Yes
Meal service: Enhanced meal service, with complimentary Champagne on boarding and an extended choice of meals for premium economy passengers
www.cathaypacifi
c.co.uk
DELTA AIR LINES London Heathrow to Atlanta, New York JFK, Boston,
Detroit, Minneapolis-St Paul. New service to Seattle to be launched in March 2014. Manchester to New York JFK fl ights also include premium economy B767-300ER, B767-400ER 35in
in economy
Meal service: Standard
www.delta.com
38in international routes from spring 2014
Due to be installed on No
Meal service: Enhanced. Improved selection of meals and beverages from December 2013
www.ana.co.uk
BRITISH AIRWAYS All routes from Heathrow to Africa, Asia, Middle East, North America, South America and Caribbean B777-200, B777-300, B747-400, B787-8, A380, B767-300 Yes
38in No No
Meal service: Enhanced, featuring dishes created by world-renowned chefs
www.ba.com
EVA AIR London Heathrow to Bangkok/Taipei B777
Yes
Meal service: Enhanced
www.evaair.com
JAPAN AIRLINES London Heathrow to Tokyo B777-300ER
Yes 38in No To be installed by 2015
QANTAS London Heathrow to Sydney and Melbourne via Dubai A380-800
Yes 42in No Yes
Meal service: Enhanced. Select on Q-Eat service, allowing passengers to pre-order meals before fl ying, recently extended from business class to premium economy
www.qantas.co.uk
UNITED AIRLINES London Heathrow to Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
No – designated section Yes
New York Newark, San Francisco, Washington B747-400, B787-8, B767-300, B767-400ER, B757-200 No, designated section at front of economy cabin Available on selected aircraft
34-36in
Available
on achieving Premier Status, earned by fl ying with United, Copa and selected MileagePlus partners Meal service: Standard
www.united.com
Yes
VIETNAM AIRLINES London Gatwick to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City B777-200ER
Yes
Meal service: Enhanced
www.vietnamairlines.com
42in Yes No,
but with dedicated check-in desk and use of lounge Meal service: Standard meal service, but with additional complimentary Champagne
www.uk.jal.com
VIRGIN ATLANTIC All fl ights
A340-600, A340-300, A330-300, B747-400 Yes
37/38in Yes
Meal service: Enhanced
www.virginatlantic.com
Available on selected aircraft 39.4in No
No
68 THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
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