If one factor is leading the trend of commercial flights in 2024, it’s business class travel.
Within its ‘2024 Global Business Travel Forecast’ report, corporate travel management platform Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) found that airline passengers in the Asia-Pacific are paying more than usual for business class seats, given the increase in demand for leisure travel after years of restricted mobility due to the pandemic.
In a June 2023 report in-flight entertainment developer Panasonic Avionics suggested that airline passengers are ready to spend more on luxurious travel for better amenities and more space.
Panasonic found that airlines are eager to respond to this trend, with many carriers making major strides in passenger experience, particularly on premium travel experience.
During the first half of 2024, five major airlines have launched and unveiled new or upgraded business class seats and amenities. The standards of business class seats have now been set higher. It seems that features previously considered a luxurious bonus, such as a personal seat door, have gradually become considered as standard.
Here are five airlines that showcased their latest business class products during the first six months of 2024.
Turkish Airlines Crystal Business Class Suites
Turkish Airlines unveiled its brand new business class product at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024.
Called the ‘Crystal Business Class Suites’, the new seats feature an adjustable suite door and privacy panel for enhanced in-flight privacy, a first for Turkish Airlines.
The cabin is in a 1-2-1 configuration, and is in a staggered layout, so every business class passenger has access to the aisle. The seats have a 23-inch width with increased footwell space, and in line with the company’s ‘Flow’ brand identity, the new suites feature lighter and warmer colors, with marble-style table and rose gold finishes.
The seating on the Crystal Business Class Suites was developed by Turkish Airlines’ subsidiary TCI Aircraft Interiors to create a bespoke product unique to the airline, featuring elements with plush leathers. Fabrics were all sourced from Turkey to pay homage to the flag carrier’s roots.
During the Crystal Business Class Suites unveiling. Turkish Airlines’ Chairman of The Board and Executive Committee Professor Ahmet Bolat said: “Our new Crystal Business Class suite will add a new chapter for our long-haul luxury travel and will carry the airline into the future with a new level of comfort and privacy across our extensive global network.”
“The specially created design will complement our award-winning in-flight dining options for us to keep providing an unparalleled experience above the clouds for our guests,” Bolat added.
The Crystal Business Class suites will initially be installed on Turkish Airlines’ Boeing 777 fleet, beginning in early 2025.
Qatar Airways Qsuite Next Gen
Another airline that showcased its latest business class product at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow was Qatar Airways.
Prior to its unveiling, the new business class suites were marketed as ‘Qsuite 2.0’, but Qatar Airways revealed that the official name of the upgraded business class seat version of its award-winning Qsuites is ‘Qsuite Next Gen’.
The new seats are 1.5 inches wider – in bed mode, 4 inches wider – than the current Qsuite.
The suites can turn into fully flat beds, which measure 80” in length, with a width of 27.5”.
There are two types of Qsuite Next Gen Suites. The Companion Suite has a face-to-face window seating configuration, enabling traveling couples to dine, work, or talk while facing one another. Meanwhile, the Quad Suite is perfect for traveling families and comes with fully adjustable monitors.
Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer told the media during the unveiling: “Customer experience and customer satisfaction has been very important to Qatar Airways. Our QSuite has been the benchmark [of customer experience] in the industry for a very long time. We have been able to elevate the benchmark and raise the bar in the industry.”
The Qsuite Next Gen Suites will be first rolled out on Qatar Airways’ fleet of Boeing 777X.
To spruce up its business class experience even further, Qatar Airways introduced caviar service in select business class routes as of August 15, 2024.
The deluxe in-flight meal service, ordinarily found in first class, are now available to Qatar Airways business class passengers on the following flights from Doha International Airport (DOH):
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
- Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Melbourne Airport (MEL)
- New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- Sao Paulo International Airport (GRU)
- Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
- Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Oman Air’s Business Studio
In probably the most recent business class development, Oman Air announced on August 21, 2024 that it is to replace its existing long-haul First Class product with its new Business Studio.
The Business Studio will retain the First Class’ spacious cabin layout, classic lie-flat seats and Wi-Fi connectivity. According to the airline, the main difference will be the price point. The Business Class Studio’s fares are more affordable, and the service is tailored to the needs of business class travelers.
The Business Studio’s seat offers a generous pitch at 82”. It also features privacy walls for every seat, a 23-inch personal screen, free Wi-Fi connectivity and on-the-go à la carte dining.
Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said that the Business Studio was born out of a “diminished demand” of the traditional first class service and product.
“Inspired by valuable guest feedback and to adapt and evolve in line with global market trends, we have strategically refined our premium offering to deliver greater value and appeal. The traditional First Class experience has seen diminished demand, and after careful analysis and benchmarking against industry standards, we decided to retire the product,” Korfiatis said in a statement.
“This decision allows us to focus on delivering an exceptional Business Class experience that better meets modern traveler expectations and is more closely aligned with the demographics targeted by the national tourism objectives, such as wellness, adventure and MICE. Moreover, we’re offering it all at a more competitive price point,” Korfiatis added.
Oman Air’s new Business Studio will be available for booking starting from September 9, 2024, featuring predominantly on the airline’s services from Muscat International Airport (MCT) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
Korean Air Prestige Suites 2.0
Korean Air has received its first B787 Dreamliner, and it will equip the fleet with its new business class seat and product, dubbed the ‘Prestige Suites 2.0’.
Compared to the carrier’s existing Prestige Suites, the 2.0 version adds an extra degree of seclusion, with sliding privacy doors that transform the seats into a passenger’s own enclosed pod.
All seats have aisle access, and those traveling in pairs may opt for the middle seats, which can turn into ‘honeymoon’ spaces when dividers are not used.
Each seat functions as a virtually independent space, with an unenclosed top that provides a sense of openness while maintaining a level of privacy. The seats fully recline to a flat 180 degrees, transforming into a bed. The seat length has been extended to 78 inches (about 198 cm), with a seat pitch of 46 inches (117 cm) and a seat width of 21 inches (53 cm).
The new seats feature traditional Korean patterns, including the ‘Jogakbo’ patchwork. The cabin interior features a cream color inspired by Korea’s Joseon Dynasty porcelain, with shades of charcoal and black with a blue tint adding a hint of tranquility.
There is also a personal space next to each seat’s armrest, featuring a table for cups and small personal items, a personal storage compartment, a wireless phone charger, dual 220V/110V outlets and two high-speed USB-C ports.
High-resolution monitors supporting 4K resolution on 24-inch monitors offer an enhanced inflight entertainment experience for Prestige Suites 2.0 passengers.
Lufthansa Allegris business class cabin
In April 2024, Lufthansa unveiled its new Allegris business class product at Munich Airport (MUC), as installed on its newly-delivered Airbus A350-900.
Allegris is Lufthansa’s new long-haul cabin product that will see First, Business, Premium
Economy and Economy classes of travel all revamped as part of a €2.5B investment program.
Allegris Business Class has a unique feature that allows passengers to choose from different seat options all within the same cabin. The first is the enclosed mini-suite, followed by the ‘Throne’ seats which occupy the entire central aisle space and are already in use on SWISS business class. Other seat variations include those with an extra-long 2.20-meter bed, seats with enhanced privacy, and regular business class seats.
Lufthansa is rolling out the Allegris experience slowly, first by upgrading its business class meals with a focus on vegetarian dishes and Germany’s bread culture.
“The entire Lufthansa team is proud to present our new Business Class experience,” Lufthansa Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer Heiko Reitz said in a statement. “Our culinary highlights, the celebration of German bread culture and the collaboration with traditional brands such as Ziegler for the new Lufthansa Aperitif Avionic underline the timeless elegance of our brand.”
In addition, World Baker of the Year 2022 Axel Schmitt has developed a special bread exclusively for Lufthansa’s Business Class long-haul flights.
On July 26, 2024, Lufthansa reopened its renovated lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport’s (EWR) Terminal B.
The Newark facility is the first Lufthansa lounge to be designed in line with the Allegris flight experience and concept.
Similar to the Allegris Cabin, the Newark lounge features light colors and natural wood finishes with clean lines, accentuated by darker neutral shades.
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