If there is one factor that will lead the trend in commercial flights in 2024, it is business class travel.
Business travel management platform Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) found in its 2024 Global Business Travel Forecast report that airline passengers in Asia-Pacific are paying more than usual for business class seats amid increased demand for leisure travel after years of limited mobility due to the pandemic.
In a June 2023 report, in-flight entertainment developer Panasonic Avionics suggested that airline passengers are willing to spend more money on luxury travel in order to get better amenities and more space.
Panasonic has found that airlines are keen to respond to this trend and that many airlines are making great strides in the passenger experience, particularly the premium travel experience.
In the first half of 2024, five major airlines introduced and unveiled new or improved business class seats and amenities. Standards for business class seats are now higher. It seems that features that were once considered a luxury bonus, such as a personal seat door, are gradually becoming standard.
Here are five airlines that unveiled their latest business class products in 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.
The new seats, called “Crystal Business Class Suites,” feature an adjustable suite door and a privacy panel for greater privacy during the flight – a first for Turkish Airlines.
The cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration and staggered so that every business class passenger has aisle access. The seats are 23 inches wide and offer more space in the legroom. In keeping with the company’s “Flow” brand identity, the new suites are decorated in lighter and warmer colors and equipped with marble-effect tables with rose gold finishes.
The Crystal Business Class Suite seats were designed by TCI Aircraft Interiors, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, to create a bespoke product unique to the airline, featuring soft leather elements. All fabrics are sourced from Turkey to honour the airline’s roots.
Unveiling the Crystal Business Class Suites, Professor Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines, said: “Our new Crystal Business Class Suite will open a new chapter for our long-haul luxury travel and take the airline into the future with a new level of comfort and privacy across our extensive global network.”
“The specially designed design will complement our award-winning onboard dining offering so that we can continue to offer our guests an unparalleled experience above the clouds,” added Bolat.
The Crystal Business Class suites will initially be installed in Turkish Airlines’ Boeing 777 fleet from early 2025.
Qatar Airways Qsuite Next Gen
Another airline that unveiled its latest business class product at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow was Qatar Airways.
Before their unveiling, the new business class suites were marketed as “Qsuite 2.0,” but Qatar Airways announced that the official name of the upgraded business class seating version of its award-winning Qsuites is “Qsuite Next Gen.”
The new seats are 1.5 inches wider – 4 inches wider in bed mode – than the current Qsuite.
The suites convert into fully flat beds measuring 80 inches long and 27.5 inches wide.
There are two types of Qsuite Next Gen suites. The Companion Suite features a facing window seating arrangement so travelling couples can sit facing each other to dine, work or socialise. The Quad Suite, meanwhile, is ideal for travelling families and features fully adjustable monitors.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, told the media during the unveiling: “Customer experience and customer satisfaction are very important to Qatar Airways. Our QSuite has long been the benchmark (for customer experience) in the industry. We have been able to raise the benchmark and raise the bar in the industry.”
The Qsuite Next Gen Suites will be introduced for the first time on Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777X fleet.
To further enhance the Business Class experience, Qatar Airways has introduced a caviar service on select Business Class routes from August 15, 2024.
The Deluxe Inflight Meal service, normally offered in First Class, is 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 what is probably the latest business class development, Oman Air announced on August 21, 2024 that it would replace its existing long-haul first class product with its new Business Studio.
The Business Studio retains the spacious cabin layout of First Class, the classic reclining seats and Wi-Fi connectivity. The main difference, according to the airline, will be the price. The Business Class Studio fares are cheaper and the service is tailored to the needs of Business Class travelers.
The seats in the Business Studio offer generous pitch at 82 inches. In addition, all seats are equipped with privacy screens, a personal 23-inch screen, free WiFi and the option of à la carte dining on the go.
Oman Air CEO Con Korfiatis said the Business Studio was born out of a “declining demand” for the traditional first-class service and product.
“Inspired by valuable guest feedback and to adapt and evolve with global market trends, we have strategically refined our premium offering to provide greater value and appeal. The traditional first class experience has seen declining demand and after careful analysis and benchmarking against industry standards, we have decided to discontinue the product,” Korfiatis said in a statement.
“Thanks to this decision, we can focus on offering an exceptional Business Class experience that better meets the expectations of modern travelers and is better suited to the target audience of national tourism destinations such as wellness, adventure and MICE. In addition, we offer all this at a more competitive price,” added Korfiatis.
Oman Air’s new Business Studio can be booked from September 9, 2024 and will be used primarily on the airline’s flights from Muscat International Airport (MCT) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
Korean Air Prestige Suites 2.0
Korean Air has received its first B787 Dreamliner and will equip the fleet with its new business class seat and product called “Prestige Suites 2.0”.
Compared to the airline’s existing Prestige Suites, Version 2.0 offers an additional level of seclusion by featuring sliding doors that transform the seats into an enclosed cabin for the passenger.
All seats have aisle access and those travelling as a couple can opt for the middle seats, which can be converted into “honeymoon” seats when no partitions are used.
Each seat functions as a virtually independent space, with an open top that creates a sense of openness while still providing a degree of privacy. The seats recline fully 180 degrees, transforming into a bed. Seat length has been extended to 78 inches (approximately 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 is decorated in a cream tone inspired by Korean porcelain from the Joseon Dynasty, with shades of charcoal and black with a hint of blue adding a touch of calm.
Next to the armrest of each seat, there is also a personal area with a table for cups and small personal items, a personal storage compartment, a wireless charger for phones, two 220V/110V power outlets and two high-speed USB-C ports.
High-resolution monitors supporting 4K resolution on 24-inch monitors offer Prestige Suites 2.0 passengers an enhanced in-flight entertainment experience.
Lufthansa Allegris Business Class Cabin
In April 2024, Lufthansa presented its new business class product Allegris at Munich Airport (MUC), which is installed on its newly delivered Airbus A350-900.
Allegris is Lufthansa’s new long-haul cabin product, which includes First, Business, Premium
The Economy and Economy travel classes were completely modernized as part of a 2.5 billion euro investment program.
Allegris Business Class has a unique feature that allows passengers to choose between different seating options within the same cabin. The first is the closed mini-suite, followed by the “throne” seats that take up the entire center aisle and are already used in SWISS Business Class. Other seating options include seats with an extra-long 2.20-meter bed, seats with more privacy and regular Business Class seats.
Lufthansa is slowly introducing the Allegris experience by first upgrading meals in Business Class, with an emphasis on vegetarian dishes and German bread culture.
“The entire Lufthansa team is proud to present our new Business Class experience,” said Heiko Reitz, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Airlines, 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 long-haul business class flights.
On July 26, 2024, Lufthansa reopened its renovated lounge in Terminal B of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
The Newark facility is the first Lufthansa lounge designed in line with Allegri’s 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 tones.
–
