Hong Kong Airlines hopes its new all-business class flights between London Gatwick and Hong Kong will capture the interest of business travel buyers.
The all business class concept has a checkered history, with Silverjet and Eos trying, and failing, to serve the Middle East-London market.
More recently, however, British Airways has proved that a club class service can be successful, with its London City to New York JFK flights.
According to Gerard Clarke, Hong Kong Airlines’ UK country manager, the new offering could have similar success, having been developed after careful research, with two key business customers in mind.
“One is the top end corporate markets, so the banking community in the city, the legal profession, and the insurance sector – so people in the square mile and Canary Wharf,” he said.
“The second group I would say is the SME market. China is becoming increasingly important for that group of travellers out of the UK, so we will give them the option of travelling into Hong Kong and making a very convenient connection into china from there.”
To ensure interest from the corporate travel market, Hong Kong Airlines has also taken the step of joining the Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC).
The two financial capitals are currently directly linked by some five airlines, not to mention European and Gulf carriers which offer connections via other airports.
But the Chinese carrier hopes to be able to offer something a little different.
Speaking to ABTN at WTM, Clarke said: “We will take the very innovative step, groundbreaking I believe, to offer 2 different business class experiences on board.”
The carrier will operate flights between Hong Kong and London with A330-200 aircraft, fitted out with two different types of business class: Club Classic and Club Premier.
In Club Classic there will be 82 cradle seats, configured 2-2-2, with a pitch of 51 inches and a width of 22 inches.
In Club Premier, meanwhile, passengers will find 34 suites with fully flat beds, configured 1-2-1, and will be offered a fine dining service with individual table settings, and a turndown service with duvets, pyjamas and slippers.
Both classes will feature wifi internet access, audio-video on demand, digital magazines and high definition screens measuring 10.4 inches in Club Classic and 15.4 inches in Club Premier.
Flight HX876 will depart from the North Terminal at London Gatwick Airport at 2130, arriving into Hong Kong at 1805 the following day.
From Hong Kong, flight HX875 will leave Hong Kong at 2350, arriving into Gatwick the next day at 0555.
www.hkairlines.com