Just over a year after completing the renovation of its A320s to remove business class seating, Avianca is bringing business class back to a subset of routes served by its fleet.
Seats & Cabin
American Airlines announces Flagship Suite Preferred premium bulkhead seats
A select few passengers will soon have access to Flagship Business Preferred, a not-quite-first-class option on American Airlines, even as the carrier retires the actual first class cabin from its long-haul fleet.
United sees premium potential for Polaris, but probably not a champagne call button
It is unlikely the rumored “champagne-on-demand” button will really be part of its upcoming offerings, but United Airlines is looking at options to expand its Polaris premium cabin.
Aegean plans long(er) haul with A321neo shift
Aegean Airlines plans to fly a bit further from 2026. The carrier converted four of its pending A321neo orders to the long-range version of the aircraft, supporting flights up to 7.5 hours from its hub in Athens.
In search of sleep: innovation targets snoozers for 2024 Crystal Cabin Award
Is there a better way to get a good night’s sleep without splurging for a business class bed? The 2024 collection of Crystal Cabin Award applicants certainly think so, with several nominations covering that segment.
PaxEx Bits: Week ending 5 April 2024
Lots of cabin and connectivity news bits to catch up on as the week comes to an end…
Upstarts get creative in economy class for 2024 Crystal Cabin Awards
The economy cabin is typically optimized for airline profit over customer comfort, but that doesn’t mean all creativity is lost. Here are a few upstarts looking to move the market and win a 2024 Crystal Cabin Award.
JetBlue boosting crew on Mint A321neo planes
JetBlue is boosting staffing on its newest Mint-configured planes in a move that appears to be tied to the mini-suite doors and “regulatory clarification” from the FAA.
Bigger bins coming to some United Express/Skywest E175s
United Airlines has a new plan to avoid gate-checked bags on its regional jet fleet: Larger overhead bins will be installed on 50 planes by the end of the year.
Back to basics: New business class seat designs vie for Crystal Cabin Award honors
Forget about luxury. A market exists for the most basic of business class needs: a flat bed. Two short list candidates for the 2024 Crystal Cabin Awards aim to fill that gap.