Originally Posted by
WHBM
Actually the money to be made in long haul is travel in the premium cabins, PLUS the contribution of those back in economy, with a significant proportion of them also travelling on business and not having paid bottom bucket fares, PLUS substantial belly freight loads in both directions, PLUS a good frequent traveller base to ensure all year round and continuing revenue, PLUS a balanced mixture of O&D and connecting pax rather than just all one or just all the other, PLUS service into a significant hub for at least one end of the route.
Then you might get away with it after a few years of route development.
You are quite right, historically speaking. But shoving 50 prem eco seats in the front of a 78/330 and charging a £200 uplift for the pax is not the same business model as the uplift to income from proper C class passengers who may well be paying a £1000 extra for the privilege. If you can fill 1st and business on traditional ticket prices, sure you will make a profit, with Economy just about breaking even. The problem is that the world has changed and you can no longer guarantee full C class cabins as the corporate clients get ever meaner with their budgets. I'm absolutely convinced that Prem Econ is a dead end for long haul LCC's .