News

Cathay Pacific introduces new business class to London

5 Oct 2012 by ScottCarey7

Cathay Pacific’s new business class cabin is now available on selected daily flights between London Heathrow and Hong Kong.

The fully-flat seat began to be gradually rolled out across flights on the route from September, and is currently on two of the four aircraft serving the route. The new product is due to be fully available on its four daily flights by winter next year.

Cathay has been showing off the new product at a roof-top pop up at the One New Change shopping centre near St Pauls in London all week.

The new business class cabin involved input from the airline’s Marco Polo Club members. All seats have direct aisle access and are configured 1-2-1. The seat is 20-1 inches wide, with a triangular cushion to one side which affords extra space when the seat is fully-flat.

The seat reclines to meet a footrest and is 82 inches long when fully reclined. There is a 15.4-inch IFE screen and all the controls are located at shoulder height, along with a reading light and the in-seat power and iPod USB jacks.

There is a great deal of storage, with a shoe locker below the seat and a side storage unit which is sufficiently large for a laptop or handbag.

Cathay Pacific chief executive John Slosar said: “Our new business class is a genuine collaboration between our customers and our own team. [...] This is why in designing the business class product we talked to our customers, listened to their feedback, and then incorporated those features they told us would provide them with the optimal balance of productivity, comfort, and privacy.”

By February 2013, the airline hopes to have all 30 of its Boeing 777-300ERs and 20 long-haul A330-300s fitted with the product. The new product will not be fitted on the carrier’s B747s, as these are due for retirement.

Cathay Pacific flies four times a day direct between London Heathrow and Hong Kong International Airport, with interconnecting flights to 140 worldwide destinations, including 40 in China (through its sister airline, Dragonair).

The new business class seat was introduced back in May 2011 but has only now been officially brought on to the London route. For an interview with Cathay Pacific Chief Executive John Slosar on the new business class seat from May 2011, click here.

To read a recent Tried and Tested review of the new product on the London – Hong Kong route, click here.

For more information visit cathaypacific.co.uk.

Report by Scott Carey

Loading comments...

Search Flight

See a whole year of Reward Seat Availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Be up-to-date
Magazine Subscription
To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below
Polls