p12 News Feb26 24/2/10 17:11 Page 12
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ttglive.com
Qantas cuts back first
RELAUNCH.
Back to business
Gary Noakes.
Joyce said the switch added the equiva-
QANTAS has become the lent capacity of three 747s. He revealed cabins for Gulf Air
first major carrier to the changes as the Qantas
scrap first class on Group became one of the few GULF AIR will ditch first class next month in
much of its long-haul airline brands to report a favour of relaunching its business cabin under the
fleet, and has sig- profit in the second half Falcon Gold brand. The carrier will offer its exist-
nalled there may be of 2009, following ing first-class cabin to full-fare business-class
no future investment a cost-cutting pro- passengers until the end of next year, while air-
in the cabin. gramme and a big craft are being refurbished with the new Falcon
First class will be contribution Gold cabin (below), which will offer fully flat beds.
removed from a third of its from its budget The airline’s Sky Chefs, qualified chefs who
Boeing 747 fleet and will not feature brand, Jetstar. prepare meals in first class, will be retained for
on any new Airbus A380s delivered after 2012. The group the business cabin, which will be on all flights of
However, the changes will not affect London made a pre-tax more than four-and-a-half hours. At Bahrain air-
or Los Angeles services, as aircraft used on profit in the six months port, the Gulf Air lounge will be refurbished to
these routes to Melbourne and Sydney will from July of £52 million. However, the underlying include The Dining Room,
retain the premium cabin. Qantas chief execu- profit, a more effective measure, was £154 mil- allowing passengers to
tive Alan Joyce said first class would remain on lion, excluding exceptional items. The combined eat before they board.
A380s “where demand existed”. carriers saw average yield fall 15% but benefited Gulf Air chief executive
The changes will see more business-class from lower fuel prices and currency advantages. Samer Majali said that
seats (pictured) replace the first-class cabin Jetstar grew passenger numbers 43% year on business-class passengers
on nine Boeing 747s and first class ditched on year to 7.3 million as Qantas swapped more of its would enjoy a superior
eight new A380s due for delivery from 2012, mainline routes to it. Jetstar made £70 million product while first-class
in favour of more economy and premium before tax, an increase of £45 million year on customers would get
economy seats. year. better value.
it’s your night
23.09.2010
12 26.02.2010
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