Discover ZIMprivacy’s new Premium Economy seat; Lufthansa
Although business travel is still slowly picking up, airlines have reported that demand for premium cabins has soared.
Air France economy bonus.
Air France
Source: Condé Nast Traveler, The Points Guy
This is, in part, because of the lower fares.
Airlines in a snowy airport.
EchoVisuals/Shutterstock
Source: Condé Nast Traveler
According to an Expedia study, premium ticket prices were about 290% more expensive than regular economy fares in 2021, up from 365% more in 2020 and 430% more in 2019. Additionally, 26% of Americans say that ‘they will upgrade if they can afford the price.
Qatar Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in economy class.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: Expedia
Meanwhile, some have been looking for upgraded seating to allow more room for social distancing, according to Lukas Kaestner, president of the Crystal Cabin Award Association.
French bee economy premium.
Taylor Rains / Insider
Source: Conde Nast Traveler
Airlines like Delta and United have reported higher demand for premium economy. Specifically, Delta Chairman Glen Haustein revealed during the company’s third-quarter earnings call that more passengers flew in its premium Comfort+ cabin than in 2019.
Delta Comfort+.
Delta Airlines
Source: The Motley Fool
In fact, demand for Delta’s premium cabin has exceeded that of the company’s coach product. “This is great validation of our premium strategy, especially given the higher mix of consumer demand.”
A Delta plane.
James D. Morgan/Getty Images
Source: The Motley Fool
Meanwhile, United chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella said on the airline’s third-quarter earnings call that its load factor for Economy Plus “increased 10 points from 2019 this summer. “. The load factor measures the number of available seats filled.
United Airlines saves more.
Mendenhall Olga/Shutterstock
Source: The Motley Fool
Nocella continued: “50% of our revenues in the transatlantic leisure market came from premium cabins in 2021, an improvement of 13 points compared to 2019.”
United Airlines saves more.
EQRoy/Shutterstock
Source: The Motley Fool
Since its growing popularity, premium economy class has become an affordable alternative to business class or first class and an important source of revenue for airlines.
British Airways Club Suite Business Class.
British Airways
Source: Conde Nast Traveler
Additionally, Lufthansa told Simple Flying that its premium product is its most profitable cabin, earning more than business and first. Due to demand, the Lufthansa Group has chosen to upgrade its premium economy cabin with new seats.
Lufthansa Premium Economy.
Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
Source: single flight
The Lufthansa Group consists of several airlines, including Lufthansa and its regional partners, Eurowings, Eurowings Discover, SWISS and its subsidiary Edelweiss Air, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa Cargo. So far, only SWISS and Lufthansa will have the new premium seats.
Members of the Lufthansa Group.
Lufthansa Group
Source: Lufthansa Group
The company has selected ZIM Aircraft Seating’s ZIMprivacy PC-02 premium economy recliner to equip SWISS’ Boeing 777 and Airbus A340 aircraft by the end of March 2022. Each B777 aircraft will have 24 seats.
ZIMprivacy premium economy seats from the Lufthansa Group.
The Lufthansa Group
Source: ZIM Airplane Seats
In 2023, Lufthansa is expected to unveil the brand new seats for its new Boeing 777-9, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Lufthansa plane.
Tupungato/Shutterstock
Source: ZIM Airplane Seats
Each seat is customized with unique Lufthansa and SWISS colors, logos and finishes so both can retain their individual cabin brands.
Swiss International Airlines.
Fedor Selivanov/Shutterstock
Source: ZIM Airplane Seats