Travel Matters February 2018

www.travelctm.co.uk 04 | INDUSTRY NEWS A rash of new business class cabins continue the trend for increased privacy 35,000 feet up. Here’s our round-up of the main contenders A CLASS OF ITS OWN INDUSTRY NEWS | 05 ETIHAD The airline's Business Studios on its A380 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft are state-of-the-art, with front and forward-facing seats in a dovetail design that allows for direct aisle access, ample storage and fully flat beds. The Upper Deck on the A380 offers The Lobby, a meeting place for passengers, as well as a place to work, with power supply and connectivity ports. Passengers can dine anytime, choosing from an a la carte menu. The airline's airside lounge offers all-day dining. www.etihad.com QATAR Last summer Qatar Airways launched Qsuite, a business class cabin in its signature colours of burgundy and grey with doors around each seat for the ultimate in privacy. The suite offers ambient mood lighting, fully lie-flat beds, generous storage space, and a mix of aft and forward-facing seats from its quad configuration. Moveable panels allow passengers to transform their space into a social area for four, for example. When sleeping, a bespoke turndown service provides pillows, quilted mattress, duvet, sleepwear, slippers and Do Not Disturb signs. A media panel offers all-access power port, with USB, HDMI and NFC capabilities. Amenity kits are designed by two Italian brands, Bric and Castello Monte Vibiano. www.qatarairways.com UNITED A personal onboard suite with added privacy is the focus of the airline’s new Polaris international business class cabin. Seats are forward-facing and each with direct-aisle-access seats that recline flat. Luxury bedding and spa-quality Cowshed products, upgraded dining options and, on the ground, dedicated airport lounges with rest spaces and high- end pre-flight dining options complete the package. www.united.com United Polaris travel features, including aircraft and airport configuration, may not be available in all markets and/or flights. AIR CANADA The airline's international business class is best sampled on 787 Dreamliner and selected 777 aircraft as these are fitted with Executive Pods, Air Canada's latest business class product. It comprises a seat that is 6'7" in lie-flat mode, some 21" wide, with lumbar support and massage function, individual power supply, a USB port for charging, large slide-away table and 18" touch-screen monitor, noice-cancelling headphones and video-touch handset. www.aircanada.com QANTAS The Australian airline’s next-generation business class can be found on its Dreamliner and Airbus A330 fleet. Business Suites provide a high level of privacy by adjusting the divider between each seat. Fully flat beds are 23-24” wide laid out in 1-2-1 configuration mean that all seats have aisle access. They can stay reclined during take-off and landing. Passengers have a 16” personal entertainment device with touch screen controls. There is also in-seat USB and PC charging. In the Dreamliner, cabins have larger windows and passengers can adjust the amount of light that comes through with an electronic control. There is also a self-service bar for drinks and snacks during the flight. www.qantas.com SINGAPORE AIRLINES Soothing and classy leather and fabrics set the tone of SIAs new cabin, launched in December, with a new seat measuring 25 inches in width, which has two side wings for better back support. It reclines directly into a comfortable full-flat bed (78 inches) or into 'sun-deck' position to watch movies on the 18-inch high definition touch-screen monitor. Passengers are cocooned inside a larger back shell while the centre divider can be fully lowered to form double beds, making the two centre seats an ideal choice for customers such as families travelling together. The seat also has more under-seat stowage space to accommodate a full-sized cabin bag and laptop bag or handbag. Seats are all forward-facing, in 1-2-1 configuration which offer all customers direct aisle access. There are USB ports and in-seat power, reading lights with adjustable brightness level, mood lighting and an enlarged dining table. www.singaporeair.com