Oman Air is the latest airline to completely eliminate first class cabins, following American Airlines, Air New Zealand and Turkish Airlines.
Like many of the world’s major airlines, Oman Air will replace First with a new Business Studio cabin. This latest product will primarily be introduced on London and Bangkok routes. The new seats will be in addition to the current business class seats and will be cheaper than first class, but more expensive than standard business class seats.
Oman Air Business Studio Cabin:
Oman Air CEO Kon Kolfiatis told Fortune that demand for first class is declining. Oman Air’s new Business Studio offers 82-inch seat pitch, privacy walls on every seat, 23-inch personal screens, free Wi-Fi connectivity and a la carte dining.
Oman Air’s move follows American Airlines’ announcement that it plans to eliminate first class on international flights when it renovates its business class cabin with modern seats. Instead, American Airlines will offer new Flagship Suite Preferred Seats in the front rows of its new Boeing 787-9 aircraft and retrofitted Boeing 777-300 aircraft. Suites offer more space, multiple storage areas, and premium amenities, making them perfect for executives looking for extra luxury when flying long distances.
Malaysia Airlines was one of the first airlines to eliminate first class and add business plus seats, and now offers business studios in the older first class cabin. This will be short-lived, however, as the airline plans to convert its Airbus 350s into new Collins Aviation Elevation business class suites in 2026, eliminating business studios altogether. Economically, it is more profitable to fly full business class and business plus, as you can have fewer seats in the same cabin without the need for additional staff, and the same food and drinks as business class. It will be. Passengers are actually just paying for additional space rather than a full-height cabin.
A recent trend is to have larger suites in the front row of business class that can be selected like paid seat reservations and are more cost-effective for their space. These additional fees are only $250 per flight, which is a big difference from first class, which can cost more than $6,000 one-way. Airlines are trying to maximize revenue in the front rows, where space is not as efficiently utilized in other parts of the cabin. Business class seats are designed to efficiently fit the seats by utilizing the dead space under the front seats. Since this is not possible in the front rows, it makes sense to add additional space and functionality to increase the economic benefits of these seats.
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And when Virgin Atlantic unveiled its latest aircraft interior for the Airbus 330neo, it added two retreat suites in the center of the front row. This also provides a companion seat for dining with friends. These suites feature 6-foot-7-inch lie-flat beds, 27-inch touch screens with Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless charging. Customers can upgrade to a Retreat Suite at the time of booking for £300 ($390) per person each way. Air France has quietly revealed a similar concept on its new A350 business class cabin and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with these large suites split into two rows, rows 1 and 10. The newest seats also feature wireless charging and Bluetooth audio, but only for the airline’s top-tier frequent flyer members until 72 hours before departure. The sleeping area is particularly spacious, with a huge ottoman area allowing passengers to sleep comfortably in their preferred position.
It’s not just the seats that get upgraded in business class. In a major upgrade, Qatar Airways recently announced that it will now serve caviar in business class on select routes including London, New York, Paris and Sydney. The new caviar service can be ordered as a stand-alone snack or as part of your in-flight meal. The airline already has a business class that could rival many airlines’ first-class cabins, with on-demand meals, private suites, and luxury drinks such as the stunning Laurent-Perrier Alexandra Rose Champagne it recently offered. Includes wine and champagne. Approximately 300 pounds (approximately $390) each. The business class experience is so great that the airline has been awarded the Skytrax World’s Best Business Class award 11 times.
This article originally appeared on Fortune.com
