Join the Club……………
“Australia is a buoyant market for business class travel”, Roger Burr, British Airways Regional GM SW Pacific told a gathering of industry partners and media representatives in Sydney late last week at an exclusive launch of the airline’s new business class seat.
Even with the increased business class capacity offered by a number of carriers, BA is up 5 – 6 per cent over last year. Passengers will pay for the extra comfort and service on long haul flights and it’s not just the corporate market. The premium leisure market is very good business for British Airways. The new business class benchmark we are establishing will provide us with an even better advantage, he said.
The heart of the new Club World cabin is a new 6 foot, flat bed seat that is 25 per cent wider and offers more privacy, comfort and storage. A new ‘z’ position extends the bed to 6 foot 6 inches.
[Pictured right: Roger Burr, BA Regional GM SW Pacific believes that the market for “premium leisure” business will expand with the launch of the airline’s new Club World.]
The new Club World also has an enhanced in-flight entertainment system with a library of 100 film and TV programs playing on a 10 in. digital screen plus a laptop locker and an onboard Club Kitchen offering additional dining options.
The new Club World cabin extends beyond these innovations with an increase in the number of seats.
The demand for Club World has been so great that BA is progressively reconfiguring its fleet of 57 Boeing 747s and 43 Boeing 777s with 56 and 70 new business class seats, respectively, said Mr Burr.
[Pictured below: A new business class seat that is 25 per cent wider and a Club Kitchen are major upgrades to BA’s Club World.]
With the opening of Terminal 5 at London Heathrow opening in 2008 a new concept in lounges will be introduced to Club World passengers, he added.
All flights from Sydney to Heathrow through Bangkok will offer the new Club World before the end of the year. Flights from Sydney to Heathrow through Singapore will have the new facilities during 2008.
The £100 million overhaul of Club World is part of an investment program in the airline’s products and services that includes enhancements to its First Class cabin and the introduction of an on-demand in-flight entertainment system in every cabin across its long haul fleet.
+ Note for trivia buffs: The most favourite tipple in Club World is Chablis followed by Chateauneuf-du-pape. The most popular dishes are curries and casseroles.
Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel and Lifestyle Editor
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season