Singapore Airlines has ushered in a new era of air travel with the launch last month (October) of the first Airbus A380 service on the Singapore-Sydney route. The double-deck, super-jumbo sets new standards in air travel, with First Class sleeping cabins that can be transformed into a stylish office, with a 23-inch personal screen widescreen monitor and workstation.
The aircraft seats 471 in three classes – 12 in First on the main deck, 60 in Business on the upper level, and 399 in Economy located on both decks. Seats in the Business cabin are arranged in a forward facing, four-abreast (1x2x1) configuration that offers all passengers direct access to the aisle. The fixed back shell can be extended to the sides for greater personal privacy. Other features include a 15.4-inch LCD screen, USB ports and in-seat power, exclusively designed bedding and dining-ware, enlarged table that is height-adjustable, as well as trolley bag stowage under the seat.
Despite the 32-inch pitch, the Economy Class seat offers more personal space, knee- and legroom through improved design and the use of new, lighter and thinner materials. Customers can catch the latest movies on KrisWorld on a larger 10.6-inch personal screen and there is a USB port with each seat. SIA plans to introduce the A380 on the Singapore-London route during the first quarter of next year. Increased use by business travellers sees low-cost carriers hike fares The growing use of budget airlines by business travellers has encouraged fare increases of 10% during the past year. According to a survey by Hogg Robinson Group, the number of corporate travellers flying on low-cost airlines has risen by one third during the past 12 months and now represents over 12 per cent of the total market. This, suggests HRG, has given the no-frills airlines the confidence to hike fares. “During the last year we have booked over 90,000 flights on low-cost carriers and we are seeing more businesses choose this option for domestic and some short-haul flights,” says Mike Platt, HRG group industry affairs director.
The travel management company says easyJet’s business-friendly routes have helped the airline to grow its market share to almost 20 per cent on key routes, despite the fact it remains the most expensive of the budget carriers surveyed. Legacy carriers, observes HRG, have reduced the cost of their Economy fares by an average of five per cent in response to the growth of the low-cost sector, and almost 60 per cent of all business travellers continue to travel Economy with traditional carriers. HRG’s air trends survey was compiled from actual flights booked and ticket rates paid by an indicative sample of over 250,000 business travellers booking from the UK between May 2006 and June 2007. Bmi introduces flat beds in Business Bmi’s new fully-flat Business Class seat and upgraded Premium Economy cabin has made its debut on routes from Manchester to the US and the Caribbean, and between Heathrow and Saudi Arabia. In Business, the leather seats adjust to fully flat with two other pre-set positions, with controls for finer tuning. The in-flight entertainment has been upgraded (although is still not the latest on-demand version) and passengers now have a 15-inch seatback screen with noise-cancelling headphones. The number of seats has been reduced to 18 (from 24) because of the extra space required to allow for the 78- to 80-inch pitch. Width is 26 inches - six inches more than BA's Club World, and United and Saudi's Business Class offerings. The upgraded Premium Economy cabin features 30 of the former Business Class seats, with a 49-inch seat pitch, 21-inch width and 50 degree angle of recline. The in-flight entertainment is the same as in Business but with a nine-inch armrest-mounted screen. Flights from Heathrow to Riyadh and Jeddah will not feature the new Premium Economy cabin, a two-class configuration being in line with the high demand for Business Class seats on flights to Saudi Arabia, with 42 in the forward cabin and 156 in Economy. Excessive baggage charges reduced In the wake of criticism about its excess baggage charges introduced earlier this year, British Airways is reducing some by as much as 50%. Over and above the agreed allowances (two free checked-in bags for Club Europe and World Traveller Plus passengers, and three for those travelling in First and Club World, all with a 23kg per bag limit), long-haul passengers will now pay £75 per bag (down from £120), while for short-haul passengers the figure is down to £30 (from £60). Domestic passengers are now being charged £20 instead of £30 if they pay at the airport. These figures fall to £60, £24 and £16 respectively when paid online in advance. BA opts for both Airbus and Boeing In its biggest order for almost 10 years, British Airways has opted for both the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787. It has signed up for 12 of the super-jumbos and 24 of the Boeing Dreamliner aircraft, with options for a further seven and 18 respectively. The new, more environmentally-friendly aircraft will be delivered between 2010 and 2014, replacing 34 in the airline’s long-haul fleet. While the A380 will be used to increase capacity on key high-density markets and maximise scarce Heathrow slots, the B787 will allow BA to launch new routes and increase frequencies in existing markets.
According to BA’s chief executive Willie Walsh the new aircraft will contribute significantly to its target of improving fuel efficiency by 25 per cent by 2025.
News in brief Boeing has delayed the launch flight of its 787 Dreamliner until December, but claims its first delivery is still on track for May. All Nippon Airways will be the first airline to operate the 787. Qatar Airways has launched twice-weekly flights from Doha to Nagpur, its seventh destination in India. The route is being operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft in a two-class configuration of 12 seats in Business Class and 132 in Economy. Virgin plans to have all its Boeing 747 fleet equipped with its new Premium Economy seat by Christmas. The aircraft will have 62 of the upgraded version, against 32 of the existing seats. It has already been installed on the airline’s Airbus aircraft as part of a £12 million revamp.
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