Cathay Pacific plans to take away firstclass from its Boeing 777-300ERs because it installs a brand new enterprise class product, which has some fairly main implications…
Cathay Pacific eliminating firstclass with enterprise class retrofit
Cathay Pacific is within the technique of introducing a brand new Boeing 777-300ER enterprise class product, which will probably be often known as Aria Suites. It is a vital improve over the provider’s present 777 enterprise class, and it’s one of the anticipated new enterprise class merchandise. The plan is for the primary plane with new cabins to be in service within the coming months.
One query up till now has been what is going to occur to the provider’s current Boeing 777-300ER firstclass, which is mostly very nicely regarded. We all know that Cathay Pacific ultimately plans to introduce a brand new firstclass product, which will probably be often known as Halo Suites, however that’s solely deliberate for Boeing 777-9s (the subsequent technology 777 plane, which hasn’t but been licensed).
We now have our reply, as reported by Govt Traveller. Cathay Pacific will probably be retrofitting all current Boeing 777-300ERs to introduce Aria Suites, and as that occurs, firstclass will probably be faraway from these plane.
It’s anticipated that every one of those will probably be reconfigured over roughly three years, between mid-2024 and mid-2027. Sooner or later, Cathay Pacific will solely have firstclass on Boeing 777-9s. The airline has 21 of those jets on order, and so they’ll begin to be delivered in late 2025 on the earliest.
I’m curious how the primary class swap is executed
Logically, it makes good sense that Cathay Pacific would take away its outdated firstclass because the airline installs its new enterprise class. Cathay Pacific is an airline devoted to high quality, and irrespective of the way you slice it, it’s not very luxurious to have an almost two decade outdated firstclass suite alongside a model new enterprise class product.
That is additionally according to Cathay Pacific’s long run technique, for the reason that airline solely needs firstclass on a subset of its fleet, and the 21 Boeing 777-9s on order meet that want, flying to key international hubs.
What I’m inquisitive about right here is how precisely this technique will probably be carried out:
- Will Cathay Pacific deliberately first reconfigure its 777-300ERs with out firstclass, to maintain the present firstclass flying for so long as attainable?
- When will Cathay Pacific truly take supply of its first 777-9s? Cathay Pacific isn’t the launch buyer, and the plane shouldn’t be even licensed, so with the elevated scrutiny on Boeing, one can’t assist however marvel
- Will there be a interval the place Cathay Pacific provides no firstclass in any respect? At a minimal I’m assured there will probably be a interval the place Cathay Pacific has at most a really small firstclass toes, because it’s not like Cathay Pacific may have 20+ 777-9s flying within the subsequent few years
- Will Cathay Pacific preserve all of its firstclass services open all through this transition, together with The Pier First Lounge and The Wing First Lounge in Hong Kong?
Finally this looks like a sensible technique on Cathay Pacific’s half, and the airline is doing what it may well to handle the delay of 5 years (to date) on the 777-9.
I assume mentally I’m simply ready for the 777-9 to not truly enter service in 2025, and even 2026, or 2027, on condition that Boeing can’t even get the 737 MAX 7 or 737 MAX 10 licensed. So we’ll should see how this performs out…
Backside line
Cathay Pacific will quickly begin introducing its new Aria Suites enterprise class on Boeing 777s. The airline will set up this product all through its 777-300ER fleet, and as that occurs, we are able to anticipate firstclass to be eradicated on the planes that do function firstclass.
So ultimately no 777-300ERs may have firstclass, however slightly the plan is that firstclass will as soon as once more make an look on the 777-9s, which will probably be delivered… nicely, sooner or later. Who is aware of, as a result of we’re speaking about Boeing.
It’s anybody’s guess how small Cathay Pacific’s firstclass fleet will get for a while, because it all relies on Cathay Pacific’s plane retrofit pace, plus Boeing’s potential to ship the 777-9. I believe it’s secure to imagine the primary class fleet will sooner or later be right down to beneath 10 plane. The query is whether or not there will probably be a interval the place Cathay Pacific has no planes with firstclass — I wouldn’t be shocked to see it.
What do you make of Cathay Pacific’s firstclass plans?
