Asia's best business class airlines

Business Asia, Oct, 2007 by Lisa Carapiet

The need for business travelers to travel in style and comfort continues to grow while airlines compete furiously to meet traveler expectations of generous chair length and recline, television screen size, privacy options and perks such as designer pyjamas or specially brewed imported coffee.

Cathay Pacific

Currently in the process of introducing their new long-haul product, Cathay Pacific is revamping its seats, cabin design and inflight entertainment in First, Business and Economy class.

The new long-haul business class cabin has been designed to meet the working requirements of business travelers without any compromise in comfort, quality or attention to detail. The cabin employs a fishbone layout that allows unrestricted aisle access from each seat. Passengers enjoy their own private area in which space has been maximised for all seating modes.

The use of lighter fabrics and metallic finishes help create a feeling of space within the seat partitions.

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A new seat, designed and manufactured by US based B/E Aerospace, transforms to a totally flat bed. Ergonomically tested foams further improve sitting/lounging comfort and promote restful sleep. Simple seat controls allow full adjustment, including lumbar support, while a two-way massage function aids blood circulation.

Passengers are in full control of their own living area which features generous stowage space with all utilities, including a 15 inch tilting screen and noise reducing headset, within easy reach. Each seat is equipped with 110V AC power supply for personal electronic devices and attention has been paid to providing good illumination for passengers who wish to work. Mood lighting in the cabin and new soft furnishings and catering equipment add to the overall enhancement.

THAI Airways

THAI Airways is also going through a dynamic period of change involving network expansion, the delivery of ultra-modern aircraft and a refurbishment program for the existing fleet.

The new aircraft are arriving with a fresh, contemporary look, not only with new external livery but also with upgraded in-seat, in-flight facilities, menus and amenities. All business class passengers on THAI are also pampered with products from Hermes.

The new 'Royal Silk' business class seats are currently on all Boeing 747400s (Sydney) and Boeing 777-200ER (Melbourne/Sydney). The capsule style seats feature a 60 inch pitch, a recline of 167 degrees, width of 20 inches, large individual in-seat video screens featuring a selection of newrelease movies, documentaries, music library and games.

All seats feature individual telephones and 115V AC PC power outlets ideal for business travelers wanting to catch up on their work during the flight or for travelers using their own personal entertainment devices.

Qantas

The Skybed in Qantas international business class was created by Australian designer Marc Newson and is hailed "one of the longest and most comfortable business beds" at almost 2 metres long. It features extensive seat adjustment controls for maximum comfort in any position, regardless of your height with the privacy and personal space achieved by the 'cocoon' design and generous privacy screen. New to business class are Peter Morrissey designed pyjamas and eyeshades.

Inflight cuisine, designed by masterchef Nell Perry, ranges from a full restaurant-style experience to a faster, express-style meal or simply a snack if you feel peckish in the middle of the night. On all B747-400 and A330300 aircraft Qantas inflight bar gives you the flexibility to fix yourself a drink or snack at anytime. Enjoy their luxury blend of coffee, specially produced by Grinders Coffee.

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State of the art entertainment system on all of Qantas' B747-400 and A330-300 aircraft features 26cm touch screens, noise canceling headsets, and on-demand control, which allows you to start, pause, fast forward or stop any of their 400 AVOD program choices whenever you like. There is a personal telephone in every seat, reply text messaging in every seat and laptop 110V AC power outlets.

Singapore Airlines

On Singapore Airlines' new A380, the upper deck consists of 60 business class seats where customers can look forward to experiencing the world's widest business class seat. Designed by James Park Associates of the UK and manufactured for Singapore Airlines by Koito of Japan, the seat has already won acclaim since being fitted to the Airline's Boeing 777-300ER fleet last year.

Measuring 86 centimetres (34 inches) in width, the Business Class seat can be transformed into a comfortable full-flat bed for a good night's sleep. Innovative design of the bed enhances sleeping comfort, and also allows customers to lounge in bed to watch TV or eat, as they might at home.

Seats in the Business Class cabin are arranged in a forward facing, four-abreast (1-2-1) configuration that offers all customers direct access to the aisle. The fixed back shell on every seat can be extended to the sides for greater personal privacy.