A business class airline was an airline concept which emerged during the mid-first decade of the 21st century involving a number of airlines that operated all-business class services.[1]
The most prominent such airlines have been Eos Airlines, MAXjet Airways, Silverjet and L'Avion.[1] Early on, the idea was considered potentially lucrative, however the business model became vulnerable when in 2008 oil prices surpassed $100 a barrel. Between late 2007 and 2008, MAXjet, Silverjet and Eos Airlines all ceased operations, with Silverjet ceasing operations on May 30, 2008.[2]
L'Avion continued to trade, and was purchased by British Airways for its subsidiary Open Skies at a price of £54m in July 2008.[3]. Open Skies now operates an all Boeing 757 business-class service from Paris Orly Airport ORY direct to Newark Liberty EWR (prior to January 2010 Open Skies flew into New York Kennedy JFK airport). All though on board service is all business class, the airline operates a two types of seat with a BizBed flat bed (the older version of BA's Club World seat) and generously proportioned BizSeat non-flat offering in the rear cabin.
Virgin Atlantic and British Airways both proposed founding rival all-business class subsidiaries until the oil crisis put an end to Virgin Atlantic's plans.[1] Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa offer an all-business class service. Singapore Airlines flights currently fly the longest and biggest all-business class flights on their Airbus A340-500 from Singapore to New York, also the world's longest scheduled flight and to Los Angeles. Lufthansa operates several routes between North America and Germany, as well as between Germany and Asia, using leased Privatair Boeing Business Jets.
In October 2009 British Airways launched a unique, innovative service called "Club World London City" (aka CWLCY) offering a business class only Airbus A318 service between New York JFK and London City Airport LCY. The 32 seats convert to fully flat beds, and BA has two A318s configured in that layout.
Passengers can access text messaging, WiFi and personal audio video on demand in flight. In flight catering is provided by south London eatery Roast.
The westbound service touches down in Ireland to refuel. To minimise wasted time CWLCY passengers go through US Immigration and Customs in Shannon Airport SNN as the aircraft refuels. These CWLCY flights land as domestic flights into New York JFK, so no need to clear customs once again.
Eastbound flights are direct from New York JFK to London City LCY.
The CWLCY service uses the same flight numbers (BA001-BA004) as were previously used by Concorde. Concorde, which was a single cabin all-premium service, could have been said to be the world's first all business class service, although Concorde's on the ground and on board service was significantly better than that in both Business and First Class.
For the majority of its history Midwest Airlines of the United States offered an all business class service and cabin configuration its DC-9 and Boeing 717 aircraft. This was discontinued in its later years in an effort to financially survive before being shut down as an individually certificated independent airline by its new Republic Airways Holdings owners.
United Airlines maintains an all premium business "airline within an airline" known as United ps although this is not strictly all business class as three classes of service are offered on board these aircraft, including an economy cabin.