First-class air travel making a comeback

First-class air travel fell sharply as the 2008 financial crisis curbed corporate spending. A decade on, long-haul operators are reintroducing first-class cabins costing more than $10,000 for a round-trip ticket

Emirates A380 first-class cabins

FIRST-CLASS SEAT AVAILABILITY (thousands)
                2008   2018   
Emirates         315   623
British Airways  560   481
Lufthansa        494   175
Singapore        190   107
Cathay Pacific   122    73
Air France       186    68
Qantas           173    59



BUSIEST FIRST-CLASS ROUTES
London   San Francisco
         Hong Kong
         New York
         Los Angeles
         Abu Dhabi
         Tel Aviv
         Paris
         Dubai
         Singapore

Some carriers even offer onboard shower spa facilities


Pictures: The Emirates Group
Sources: Bloomberg, Emirates
© GRAPHIC NEWS