Emirates has this weektaken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900. In a previous post, I covered the details of the interiors of Emirates’ A350s, including how the carrier is basically installing its same old business class. In this post I wanted to focus on another update we’ve just learned about, as it relates to first…
Continue reading: All Emirates A350s Won’t Have First Class: Big Implications
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Emirates has a lot of 777-300ers in 2-class configuration, without first class. So when you look at how the A350s replace them and the 200lrs, and the way the fleet size will keep increasing in the future, the proportion of first class equipped aircraft as a percentage of the total fleet will only decrease very slightly, even accounting for the 787s. I wouldn’t get too worried about Emirates losing their ability to transport most passengers between many destinations in first class.
since EK has 65 A350s on order and the Airbus production log shows they should come at a pretty quick pace, the number of flights w/ FC will fall fairly quickly because it appears the A350 delivery rate will far exceed the retirement rate.
It never made much sense for EK to have FC on even the majority of its fleet; business class for most airlines can be and often is only a grade of difference from first class. Showers aren't going to be on any other fleet type besides the A380.
The real difference is premium economy and EK finally recognizes there is more opportunity to move people up to that cabin with much less aircraft real estate at stake than into the first class cabin.
Add in the increased competition in the Middle East and first class will continue to slowly decline on most airlines.
The difference between Emirates business class and new first class is substantial. EK has invested significantly more in improving their first class product over their business class offering over the years , to maintain demand and give customers a reason to spend more on a higher tier experience.
You claim first class is dying , yet even Qatar airways is seeing a future for it. Despite Q suite 2.0 rivaling some of the best first class products on offer today , QR has still opted to have a first class class cabin in all of their 60 777-9s on order.
@Blue
Qatar Airways will not install first class on all of their 60 777Xs but on a handful of them as per their CEO. The CEO also stated clearly that there is first class demand to very few cities like London, Paris, New York, Singapore and Sydney.
the Middle East airlines were built on creating a hub midway between some of the busiest travel corridors by offering much higher level service at lower costs. They will be the last carriers to get rid of first class.
From a corporate travel and even high dollar spender, business class products can be very high quality. FC has to be just a little better but is all of that extra real estate really a competitive advantage when there are so many very good business class products and a whole lot more that are "just good enough" because the airlines that offer them have such strong hubs?
As competition grows in the Middle East, it will be harder and harder for EK or QR or any of them to get the revenue out of first class.
Many carriers outside of the Middle East have reduced or eliminated first class.
Wonder where these A350s will go in the near-term before DWC opens, then.... every single jet is expected to be delivered by 2028, and DWC is only opening in 2030. I'm sure EK could add some flights, but DXB saw 420,000 movements last year and is closing in to LHR's 2019 number of 475,000. Given how heavily banked they are, finding the slots for 50+ new jets seems like it could be a challenge. Of course, A350s can & will replace older 777s, but given the A359 being much smaller than the 777 & not featuring F, along with the 777 and A380 retrofit decreasing seat count on each of those jets, I'd be surprised if Emirates was planning a 1:1 replacement with a decrease in seat count systemwide from now until 2030
This raises eyebrows at first, until you look at the bigger picture regarding EK. Although we're used to thinking of EK as a long haul, luxury carrier that connects places like LAX, DFW and LHR with far flung destinations via DXB, much of the airline's business is somewhat more regional. They've been gradually adding a lot of destinations in places like Africa, southern/central Asia, etc. There's little demand for first class on routes like these. So, I kinda get it.
That said, Emirates does seem to be slipping backwards a bit on their business class product. They are, however, heavily promoting their premium economy product which is also interesting. I've always thought that there's a large market for premium economy on mid/long haul flights - at the right price point. This may well be an interesting angle for a sharp aviation blogger to investigate further (ahem).
Who uses First class anyway.Only people with mileage to be able to upgrade as nobody pays for a full fare even people travelling on business whose company is paying at a heavily discounted rate and those in the entertainment business.Why have so many airlines invested heavily in business class and premium economy products as only a very small amount of airlines still offer First.
Hate to be a pedant, but the title is a but vague. It can easily be read as that some A350s will have first class while some won't.
Suggest changing it to something like "No A350s will have first class"
BA just showcased a new FC product; however, it isn't really like what the Middle Eastern carriers are offering. Rather, it appears to be more of a 'step up' from Business. Very nice but not spectacular. Obviously, the fare difference will need to be appropriate to make it work.
That said, while you're correct regarding US airlines, there are others who still maintain or who have actually upgraded their FC offerings. Didn't AF just come out with a new La Primere product? And Asian airlines seem to be in no hurry to ditch FC either. So the definitive tone of your comment seems not to fit the realities worldwide.
Lucky should take advantage of the Black Friday deal on Grammarly. Or find a copy editor.
If their Business Class product would be any good I wouldn't mind. But their Business on the B777 has mainly recliner seats - awful. I will continue to stay away from EK.
According to Executive Traveler , all 60 777-9s will have first class. Makes sense to standardize the fleet with one layout anyway.
"All Emirates A350s Won’t Have First Class: Big Implications" maybe, instead:
《No Emirates A350s Will Have First Class: Big Implications》
Pardon me if I'm being over analytical (at least the first 4 letters), but I didn't know there would be no F in their a350s until I read the article.