Latest news with #premiumtravel
Condé Nast Traveler
3 days ago
- Business
- Condé Nast Traveler
American Airlines' New Business Class Suites Start Flying This Week—Here's What to Expect
American Airlines has officially unveiled a brand-new aircraft complete with its new Flagship business class seats fitted with privacy doors. On June 5, the first flight on board the new plane will take off from Chicago to Los Angeles, followed by another from Chicago to London Heathrow later that day. This Boeing 787-9P Dreamliner is the first of 30 planes coming to the airline's fleet—a notable step-up in American's effort to compete for top-paying premium customers against primary rivals Delta and United. Heather Garboden, American's chief customer officer, says, 'every aspect of our new 787-9P is designed to feel premium in nature.' (In fact, the 'P' in the aircraft name stands for premium.) At a recent showcase in Dallas, American unveiled a first look at the new premium Boeing 787-9 aircraft, including the highly anticipated Flagship Suite business class seats, plus redesigned Premium Economy and Main Cabin seats. Here's what to expect on board the new planes and where they will be flying. Business class The business class cabin of this aircraft showcases a new 'Flagship Suite' for American, a seat unlike anything the airline has ever offered before. With 51 seats, the cabin appears packed, but the attention to design detail is high. Each seat is fully cocooned behind side walls and a sturdy door that slides closed for maximum privacy (a first for American). There is one seat by the window on either side of the plane and a pair of seats in the center (with a slide-out divider that can separate you from your seatmate). The 21-inch-wide, 79-inch-long seats recline fully flat and can alternate positions (upright to reclining lounge chair to bedtime) at the touch of a button. In a first for any US carrier, the seat has been designed so that passengers can recline into flat-bed mode and then slide their body up to the headrest to sit up against the suite wall. This gives you twice as much legroom and feels as if you are sitting in a chaise lounge. American had to undergo special certification to offer this capability and even patented a second seatbelt specifically for this function. Then there are the smaller details, like special compartments to store water bottles, eyeglasses, and other items like jewelry, all illuminated by sconce lighting. Even the lavatories feature playful, cosmetic touches such as cloud photography wallpaper on one side. For charging up your devices, there are both wireless and USB-C connectivity options—no need to jostle over outlet space here. High-definition TV screens measure 17.5 inches wide and come with an impressive amount of entertainment content. Struggle to fall asleep on red-eye flights? Nest-branded bedding and slippers await at each suite, and with the ability to slide the suite door closed, less commotion in the aisle can help improve in-flight sleep quality. For those who run hot, the pillow and duvet have a cool-touch fabric on one side.
Arabian Business
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Arabian Business
Etihad Airways announces new Airbus A350-1000 on Sydney route
Etihad Airways will introduce the Airbus A350-1000 to its Sydney to Abu Dhabi service, bringing enhanced comfort, more premium seating and innovation to its Australian route. The A350 will join the Sydney schedule on select flights from October 1, 2025, complementing the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner currently serving the route. Both aircraft offer Business Suites. From January 31, 2026, Etihad will transition all 10 weekly Sydney services to A350 operations, providing passengers with a next-generation travel experience. Melbourne will be served daily by Etihad's 787-9 aircraft featuring Business Suites and increased premium capacity. Etihad enhances Australia service 'We are delighted to bring more premium travel options to Australia with the arrival of our A350 on this important route. When the schedule is fully deployed early next year, we will have grown overall seat availability by ten per cent, and premium seat count by over 20 per cent,' Arik De, Etihad's Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer said in a statement. De said the airline has increased flight frequencies to Sydney this year, offering passengers flexibility and enhanced connectivity across the expanding global network. 'This growth provides more seamless travel options to key destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and also welcomes more visitors to our home in Abu Dhabi, where they can enjoy our exclusive stopover programme, featuring one or two-night complimentary stays at a premium hotel,' De added. The A350 is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and is one of the most efficient aircraft types in the world, with 25 per cent less fuel burn and CO2 emissions than previous models. The aircraft features Etihad's cabin interior with design details. The Business Class contains 44 Business Studios, each with a sliding door providing passengers with privacy within their suite. Business Class seats face forward with direct aisle access and are designed for comfort, converting into a flat bed of 79 inches in length, with storage for convenience. Noise-cancelling headphones and an 18.5-inch TV screen provide a cinematic experience for Etihad's inflight entertainment offering. The Business seats feature a wireless charging dock and Bluetooth headphone pairing. The A350 contains 327 Economy Smart Seats with recline and 13-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth headset pairing.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Zawya
Etihad brings its flagship A350 to Sydney with private business suites featuring sliding doors
Premium seat count boosted more than 20 per cent Optimised flight schedules enhance flexibility, ensuring smoother connections between Melbourne and Sydney to Abu Dhabi, and beyond Abu Dhabi, UAE – Etihad Airways is set to elevate its Sydney to Abu Dhabi service with the introduction of the Airbus A350-1000, bringing enhanced comfort, more premium seating and innovation to its important Australian route. Beginning 1 October 2025, the A350 will join the Sydney schedule on select flights, complementing the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner currently serving the route, with both aircraft offering the latest Business Suites. From 31 January 2026, Etihad will fully transition its 10 weekly Sydney services to A350 operations, offering guests a next-generation travel experience, and Melbourne will be served daily by Etihad's latest 787-9 aircraft featuring Business Suites and increased premium capacity. Arik De, Etihad's Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said: 'We are delighted to bring more premium travel options to Australia with the arrival of our A350 on this important route. When the schedule is fully deployed early next year, we will have grown overall seat availability by ten per cent, and premium seat count by over 20 per cent. 'We have increased our flight frequencies to Sydney this year, offering guests greater flexibility and enhanced connectivity across our expanding global network. This growth provides more seamless travel options to key destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and also welcomes more visitors to our home in Abu Dhabi, where they can enjoy our exclusive stopover programme, featuring one or two-night complimentary stays at a premium hotel.' Etihad's A350 is setting new standards for air travel, with increased innovation and comfort. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the Airbus A350 is one of the most efficient aircraft types in the world, with 25 per cent less fuel burn and CO2 emissions than previous models. The aircraft also features Etihad's newest cabin interior, infused with thoughtful design details. The elevated Business Class is home to 44 Business Studios, each with a sliding door providing each guest with enhanced privacy within their suite. In addition to facing forward with direct aisle access, every Business Class seat is designed for maximum comfort and converts into a fully flat bed of 79 inches in length, with ample storage for convenience. Noise-cancelling headphones and an 18.5-inch TV screen provide a cinematic experience to enjoy Etihad's extensive inflight entertainment offering. The Business seats also feature a built-in wireless charging dock and Bluetooth headphone pairing. The A350 is also home to 327 Economy Smart Seats with an innovative recline, 13-inch touch screen with Bluetooth headset pairing. All guests can also take advantage of complimentary Chat packages on Wi-Fi or opt for full surfing throughout the flight.
Zawya
13-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
United to ramp up luxury services amid robust demand for premium travel
United Airlines will increase the number of premium seats and services on its upcoming fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, as it looks to cash in on rising demand for luxury travel. The carrier on Tuesday unveiled a new business class suite called 'Polaris Studio' for the new aircraft, which will have 25% larger seats, caviar service, skincare kits, 27-inch screens and other luxury offerings. The aircraft will also have a standard 'Polaris' business class suite, which has been upgraded with sliding doors and larger screens, among other changes. North American airlines are rushing to capitalize on surging demand for high-margin premium travel and safeguard profits against potential economic downturns. Travel habits have changed post the COVID-19 pandemic, as consumers look for experiences and hospitality rather than buying expensive goods. A rebound in corporate travel has bolstered this trend. Last month, United said it expected its financial performance to be resilient despite economic uncertainty stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, citing demand for premium offerings and international travel. The carrier expects the first 787-9 Dreamliner with the new interior before the end of this year, with the inaugural flight planned in 2026. It expects 30 of these jets to join its fleet by 2027. (Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
Reuters
13-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
United to ramp up luxury services amid robust demand for premium travel
May 13 (Reuters) - United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab will increase the number of premium seats and services on its upcoming fleet of Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, as it looks to cash in on rising demand for luxury travel. The carrier on Tuesday unveiled a new business class suite called 'Polaris Studio' for the new aircraft, which will have 25% larger seats, caviar service, skincare kits, 27-inch screens and other luxury offerings. The aircraft will also have a standard 'Polaris' business class suite, which has been upgraded with sliding doors and larger screens, among other changes. North American airlines are rushing to capitalize on surging demand for high-margin premium travel and safeguard profits against potential economic downturns. Travel habits have changed post the COVID-19 pandemic, as consumers look for experiences and hospitality rather than buying expensive goods. A rebound in corporate travel has bolstered this trend. Last month, United said it expected its financial performance to be resilient despite economic uncertainty stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, citing demand for premium offerings and international travel. The carrier expects the first 787-9 Dreamliner with the new interior before the end of this year, with the inaugural flight planned in 2026. It expects 30 of these jets to join its fleet by 2027.
