Cathay Pacific open to considering first class for Sydney

[kamchatsky]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!

Cathay open to considering first class for Sydney | Australian Aviation

___________________________________________________________
Cathay Pacific chief executive Ivan Chu says there may be enough of a first class market in Australia for the airline to consider offering its top cabin product on some flights to Sydney.
Currently, all of Cathay’s Australian services are operated with aircraft featuring a three-class cabin of business, premium economy and economy.
For Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane that means an all-Airbus A330-300 schedule, while the oneworld alliance member uses a mix of A330s and three-class Boeing 777-300ERs to Sydney.
Chu says the airline is open to looking at introducing first class Down Under at some stage with four‐class Boeing 777‐300ERs.
“We are conscious that maybe there is a first class market for Sydney,” Chu told the August edition of Australian Aviation magazine.
“In time maybe we will. But at the moment our four‐class 777‐300ERs are now very much engaged and employed already to Europe and North America.”
Cathay has utilised all available traffic rights for Hong Kong-based carriers to Australia’s major gateway cities of Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney under the current bilateral air services agreement between the two countries.
Therefore, any move to add first class on a route such as Sydney would likely involve a reduction in capacity, given Cathay’s four-class 777-300ERs have 275 seats (six first, 53 business, 34 premium economy and 182 economy), compared with 340 seats for example on three-class 777-300ERs (40 business, 32 premium economy, 268 economy).
Cathay was not expected to offer first class on the 22 Airbus A350-900s and 26 A350-1000s on order. The airline has also ordered 21 Boeing 777-9Xs.
The only airline to offer first class between Sydney and Hong Kong is Qantas during seasonal periods when the Flying Kangaroo used its Airbus A380 on the route.
Chu indicated Cathay was also interested in adding additional freighter services to Australia.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Fingers, toes and everything else crossed that this is true.
Article is slightly incorrect though as QF do not offer F between SYD and HKG even when the A380 is operating.

 

[amaroo]

Would be nice!

 

[moa999]

open to looking v looking v actively considering
sounds a long way from certain

 

[Isochronous]

Some more F redemption options to Asia would be great!

 

[smit0847]

I think theyll need a much better reason than 'heaps of frequent flyers want cheap F points redemptions' to introduce F class on this route. If they dont think they can sell F seats theyll never introduce them.

 

[LadyC]

But we can live in hope

 

[bismarck]

Fingers crossed. Can't imagine the (revenue) demand is there but we can live in hope.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I think theyll need a much better reason than 'heaps of frequent flyers want cheap F points redemptions' to introduce F class on this route. If they dont think they can sell F seats theyll never introduce them.

Seriously ????
You have totally shattered my dreams

 

[Isochronous]

Enough rich Chinese flying to Australia to sustain demand perhaps?

 

[kevrosmith]

Enough rich Chinese flying to Australia to sustain demand perhaps?

Let's hope the rich ones know how to use a western toilet properly and refrain from insisting on standing up as soon as the plane lands (it happened again just this week on CNS-SYD).

Not surprised there isn't already First class on services to China. If you're rich enough to fly First class in China, you probably have your own private jet already.

 

[smit0847]

Let's hope the rich ones know how to use a western toilet properly and refrain from insisting on standing up as soon as the plane lands (it happened again just this week on CNS-SYD).

Not surprised there isn't already First class on services to China. If you're rich enough to fly First class in China, you probably have your own private jet already.

I flew F on SQ to China in May.

 

[kevrosmith]

I flew F on SQ to China in May.

I thought the thread was about direct services between Aus and HKG/China... Apologies if I mis-interpreted what people were commenting on about the lack of F on direct services between Aus and HKG/China.

 

[boomy]

I thought the thread was about direct services between Aus and HKG/China... Apologies if I mis-interpreted what people were commenting on about the lack of F on direct services between Aus and HKG/China.

CA fly their 777 with F cabin to SYD in the summer months (JL do the same).

Hopefully CX and NH will follow...

 

[kevrosmith]

CA fly their 777 with F cabin to SYD in the summer months (JL do the same).

Hopefully CX and NH will follow...

Xiamen Airlines (MF) also recently announced flights between SYD and Xiamen and Fuzhou, starting early December. They are using their B787 aircraft, and it looks like it is fitted out with F services too. May have to retract my statement

 

[Isochronous]

Let's hope the rich ones know how to use a western toilet properly and refrain from insisting on standing up as soon as the plane lands (it happened again just this week on CNS-SYD).

Not surprised there isn't already First class on services to China. If you're rich enough to fly First class in China, you probably have your own private jet already.

Agree.

I figure if people are willing to pay for F on short haul flights (e.g. CX/KA HKG-PEK, HKG-PVG), they would be willing to do so for long-haul too.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not surprised there isn't already First class on services to China. If you're rich enough to fly First class in China, you probably have your own private jet already.

China Southern offers first class. Many first class fares domestically in China are cheaper then the equivalent class of service on the train.

Private jets aren't for everyone - unless you have a 757 or larger. Who wants to be flying around in a tiny ERJ?

 

[Pele]

Let's hope the rich ones know how to use a western toilet properly and refrain from insisting on standing up as soon as the plane lands (it happened again just this week on CNS-SYD).

Gday

Haha we must have been on the same flight. I flew CNS- SYD last Tuesday(the evening flight) and I was taken aback at the mad scramble as soon as the plane stopped. The air hostesses need to really sort this out.

Pele.

 

[kevrosmith]

Gday

Haha we must have been on the same flight. I flew CNS- SYD last Tuesday(the evening flight) and I was taken aback at the mad scramble as soon as the plane stopped. The air hostesses need to really sort this out.

Pele.

I was on the Monday morning flight. But not surprised to hear it occurred on your flight too. It happens far too often. I asked a work colleague in Sydney to translate "sit down please" in Madarin. Qing Zuo Xia (Ching Zuo She-a). Haven't attempted to use it just yet

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was on the Monday morning flight. But not surprised to hear it occurred on your flight too. It happens far too often. I asked a work colleague in Sydney to translate "sit down please" in Madarin. Qing Zuo Xia (Ching Zuo She-a). Haven't attempted to use it just yet

Pele was saying there's a mad scramble to stand once the plane stops - I can't see a problem with that? I think CX is generally pretty good at handling pax who stand too early - like on an active taxi-way. At other times people may stand after the plane has arrived at the gate but before the seat belt sign goes off... I don't feel my safety is compromised in anyway in that circumstance.