Wirraway
25th Sep 2003, 20:33
Thursday September 25, 4:08 PM AEST
Australia's Qantas Unveils New A$385M Intl Business Class
SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Qantas Airways Ltd. unveiled Wednesday its new A$385 million international business class, part of a broader operational overhaul.
Australia's flag carrier is hoping its new sleeper seat 'skybed', cuisine, self-service bar and especially trained 1,200 attendants will lure customers in the high margin end of the business from rivals including Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.
John Borghetti, executive general manager of sales and marketing at Qantas, said the skybed, which is 199.4 centimeters long and 60 centimeters wide when fully reclined, is the "best looking seat in the sky."
It features, among other things, a fixed cocoon-style seat, privacy screens between seats, back massage feature, 26.4 TV screen and a short message service via the in-seat telephone.
The new international business class also features new mood lighting and room service style of meal ordering.
Qantas will progressively install the new services on all three-class Boeing 747-400s from this month. The aircraft will operate on routes between Australia and the U.K. via Bangkok and Singapore, the U.S. and Hong Kong.
The services will be introduced on two-class 747-400s from the end of 2004. The planes will fly between Australia and Frankfurt, Paris, South Africa and Singapore, and on the airline's Brisbane-Auckland-Los Angeles route.
Borghetti said first class passengers would also see improvements in food and wine selections, cabin enhancements including new bathrooms and amenities as well as new style sleeper suits.
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Australia's Qantas Unveils New A$385M Intl Business Class
SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Qantas Airways Ltd. unveiled Wednesday its new A$385 million international business class, part of a broader operational overhaul.
Australia's flag carrier is hoping its new sleeper seat 'skybed', cuisine, self-service bar and especially trained 1,200 attendants will lure customers in the high margin end of the business from rivals including Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.
John Borghetti, executive general manager of sales and marketing at Qantas, said the skybed, which is 199.4 centimeters long and 60 centimeters wide when fully reclined, is the "best looking seat in the sky."
It features, among other things, a fixed cocoon-style seat, privacy screens between seats, back massage feature, 26.4 TV screen and a short message service via the in-seat telephone.
The new international business class also features new mood lighting and room service style of meal ordering.
Qantas will progressively install the new services on all three-class Boeing 747-400s from this month. The aircraft will operate on routes between Australia and the U.K. via Bangkok and Singapore, the U.S. and Hong Kong.
The services will be introduced on two-class 747-400s from the end of 2004. The planes will fly between Australia and Frankfurt, Paris, South Africa and Singapore, and on the airline's Brisbane-Auckland-Los Angeles route.
Borghetti said first class passengers would also see improvements in food and wine selections, cabin enhancements including new bathrooms and amenities as well as new style sleeper suits.
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