DIE WELT (Germany)
BERLIN - Lufthansa is planning to launch a fourth class on long distance flights: Premium Economy Class. The entire long-haul fleet would be equipped with the new cabin, according to Die Welt.
The company released a statement saying that its supervisory board had agreed to invest in an “introductory project” that would take two years to develop.
Photo: Lufthansa
According to air travel expert Andreas Spaeth, Lufthansa finally made the move because the German airline realized “they were going to lose market share to other airlines, and that fear was bigger than the fear of cannibalizing Business Class.”
The new class will offer wider seats and more legroom, better food, and more baggage allowance. On the ground, passengers will get preferred check-in and access to the lounge.
According to Lufthansa, “this substantially upgraded Economy product will fill the gap between the superior Business Class segment, which features a seat that can be converted into a fully flat bed, on one side and the classic Economy Class on the other. This will appeal to both leisure travelers seeking additional comfort and business travelers.”
Worldwide some dozen airlines already offer Premium Economy, among them Qantas, Air New Zealand, ANA and Japan Airlines, but also European airlines such as Air France, British Airways, SAS Scandinavian and Turkish Airlines.
