Cathay Pacific has unveiled new business class seating for its long-haul fleet, but has stayed silent on the subject of widely-anticipated premium economy seating

The new product was introduced to media and close to 3,000 frequent fliers at Cathay’s Pacific’s (CX) glitzy product presentation “Light Up the Sky” tonight at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Cenre, which was dominated by a new business class cabin and refreshed frontline staff uniforms.

John Slosar, CX chief operating officer, said: “The focus is on the new business class. We can talk about that (premium economy) in due course.”

Cathay Pacific executives believe the new seats will raise the bar on business class products, providing "a sense of openness and personal space…and will have the longest and widest fully flat-bed available."

The product – the result of talking to “thousands of Cathay Pacific’s most frequent customers” – according to Alex McGowan, CX head of products, will be installed on all the airline’s 20 Airbus A330-300s and 30 Boeing 777-300ERs, which operate on the premium long-haul routes, “where customers want to get a good night’s sleep”. The first aircraft to feature the innovations will be an A330-300 which will be deployed on some flights to Sydney in March 2011.

Configuration of these new cabins will follow a 1-2-1 layout.

Slosar said the exercise of installing the seats on new aircraft and retrofitting old aircraft was going to cost CX "in excess of HK$1 billion", but he was quick to assure customers this would not mean a raise in fares.

As for the issue of acquiring an A380, he said that for now, they were very happy with their current fleet of B777s and expected delivery of a number of A350-900s. "We are continually looking at our fleet, and how the markets are developing." He added that if it got to a point that airports were getting too congested, there might be a possibility of reconsidering the purchase of the superjumbo.

We will be adding more images from the launch event soon, but the highlights of the seat are:

• New business class measurement on the A330 is now for the bed length (tip-to-tip) 82 inches, compared with the previous 81 inches; usable bed length is 75 inches compared with previous 71 inches; usable bed width is 26.4 inches (with bed extension) and 27.6 inches (with armrest retracted) as compared with previous 23.5 inches; and in-seat width is 20.2 inches as compared with previous 18.5 inches
• New business class measurement on the B777ER is now for the bed length (tip-to-tip) 82 inches compared with previous 81 inches; usable bed length (tip to tip) is 75 inches compared with previous 71 inches; usable bed width is 26.6 inches (with bed extension) and 29.5 inches (with armrest retraction) compared with previous 23.5 inches; and in-seat width is 21 inches compared with 18.5 inches.
• Storage space – side storage is provided to store handbags, laptop cases and water bottles
• Side cabinet and shoe locker provide secure storage for small valuables and shoes
• All seats have access to the aisle
• Direct window view – outboard seats are gently angled towards the windows, providing a better view
• Seat controls – entertainment handset, seat controller and outlets for personal devises and charging smartphones are concentrated in one panel

Margie T Logarta

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COMMENTS » 

Jimmer7 - 07/12/2010 20:59

Wow this is an exciting looking product. It shows they have listerned to their customers. They would get my money, Only downside is having to wait so long before it enters service. I can see this layout been copied by a few airlines. Virgin please take note!!!

CHINABOY - 08/12/2010 03:05

HOORAY, HOORAY, this is the best news I've read about Cathay Pacific, my favourite airline, in a very long time. I positively loathed their herringbone coffin-like Business Class seats, they were a bad idea and a wretched design. How wonderful to know that own the Business Class cabin will once again be comfortable and give the passengers an intelligently designed seat and space. Thank you CX.

bombayteddy - 08/12/2010 08:31

FINALLY Cathay has seen sense. Cant wait for it to become available on the BOM-HKG route!

StephenLondon - 08/12/2010 08:46

It looks like it will fit nicely with their current, excellent First Class offering. Good to hear CX have listened to customers who were less than thrilled with the coffin-style seating. This product looks superb! Bring it on...

EricYuDysanco - 09/12/2010 16:53

A really nice product!

Will the new seats appear on their 747s as well? And how about their First Class?

DJA1stClass4sure - 10/12/2010 10:10

It's about time that CX read all those letters to Consumer Affairs, I think it would be nice since so many of us travel different long haul routes if CX would actually tell us when our route is being upgraded ? JFK/HKG which is operated with the 777-300 is the longest route that CX runs, I wonder when that route will be upgraded, and all the rest ?

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