How Many All-Biz-Class Airlines Must Fail Before British Airways Understands?

September 30, 2009 at 12:18 PM | by JetSetCD | Comments (0)

Haven't we already worked out that All-Business-Class Flights just don't span out? Just look at the track record for these flights: Silverjet, Eos, and MaxJet all died in early 2008, ailing L'Avion was bought by British Airways shortly after that, and BA's own all-business OpenSkies took to their blog to beg passengers to book with them.

So why is British Airways making an additional attempt at the all-business, transatlantic route? Of course it's all about money, and the reasoning is that they think it'll be profitable in its first year—no word on further years. The newest route runs from London's City Airport (LCY) to JFK, but has to make a refueling pitstop in Shannon, Ireland because The Telegraph UK explains that "City Airport's runway is too short to handle an A318 with a full fuel payload." Bummer.

On the route, British Airways will run two Airbus A318 aircraft "with only 32 flatbed seats on a plane that can accommodate 100 passengers." Average fares aren't cheap by any account, running an average of �3,000 one-way ($4,827). That's almost $10,000 for one person to travel round-trip in business class—not even first class, on a route where $500 round-trips on British Airways can be had for a coach seat.

Knowing how airlines just love to be cluelessly optimistic, we've got to go ahead and already brand this an impending failure. It might take more than one year, but we don't doubt further than two. Especially since London City Airport's got the community pounding on their doors in protest of new flights.

Related Stories:
· British Airways' all-business class service to NY 'to be profitable within a year' [Telegraph UK]
· Council sued on city flights rise [BBC]
· British Airways Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: caribb]

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