Qatar – “Don’t Expect First Class to Return”, Super-Business Instead

by Adam

“I don’t think there will be a return to first-class travel. The chunk of our premium occupation is business travel. There is very little leisure travel in the front cabin, except when there’s point-to-point local traffic that we generate within our community.”

That was the statement last Wednesday by Qatar Airways CEO Al Baker. It’s not a huge surprise as Qatar’s entire fleet of B777s currently only have economy and business (First was removed during the global financial crisis) and the two class configuration is set to continue when Qatar receives their new A350s and B787s.

Qatar announced that instead of First they are opting for a new product called “super business class” that they hope to introduce within the next 24 months. The new business cabin will replace the current herring-bone layout and will provide aisle access, no other details were required. 

The yet to be delivered A380s (13 are currently on order with the first to be delivered May 31st) will maintain a proper first class cabin. Australian Business Traveler has a preview of that cabin…

qatar-airways-a380-first-class

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3 comments

Joseph N. May 13, 2014 - 12:57 pm

It’s a joke. The airlines kept outdoing each other for a more opulent FC, until they’ve made it so expensive no one will pay for it anymore. FC has gone from what we think of as FC to these new herringbone suites with big screen TVs.

So now Qatar is going to throw in the towel on FC, and J class will be the best. Except what they are calling “Business Class” is in fact what the rest of us would’ve called “First Class” 10 years ago.

They are back where they started, but with a different name. Well, its’ good for a laugh.

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desiblogger May 13, 2014 - 3:30 pm

Only the US carriers haven’t yet caught up. Business on many non-American carriers, beats business/first in many American ones. Look at CX Business versus AA first in the Asia-US segment. It’s a fairly stark contrast.

Reply
Nybanker May 13, 2014 - 7:10 pm

Joseph N: Don’t be so sure about people not paying for F.

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