Business-class-only flights have, like most things, experienced the highs and the lows.
Ten years ago several carriers emerged offering passengers travelling from European to American hubs low-cost business class comfort.
Sadly the recession prevented Eos, MaxJet and Silverjet – which also briefly flew from London to Dubai – from really taking flight.
In recent years, Hong Kong Airlines’ business-class only route to London and Singapore Airlines’ direct flight to New York have also been shelved.
Back in 2009 though, British Airways took off with a unique product, flying from London’s lesser-known London City Airport, in the heart of the capital’s financial district, to New York’s JFK, taking the carrier’s prestigious flight numbers BA001 to BA004 (previously only used by Concorde).
This route utilises two of BA's smallest aircraft, the Airbus A318.
At six years old, the two planes have already accrued more than 9 million miles across the Atlantic. However, the short runway in London City means the plane has to make a fuel stop in Shannon, Ireland, on the way over.
However, there is an advantage – the earlier BA001 flight uses the fuel stop as a way of clearing US Immigration in Ireland, allowing the aircraft to land in a domestic terminal in JFK, therefore avoiding the nightmare queues usually associated with entering the US.
In the cabin – unique to the rest of the airline’s fleet – all seats are forward-facing, at 25 inches wide, and turn into fully flat 6-foot-long beds. There is also OnAir in-flight connectivity, allowing passengers to send texts as well as send and receive emails. Entertainment is provided on especially loaded personal iPads offering 70 hours of entertainment on a 9.7-inch screen.
Passengers headed to New York are served an amuse-bouche between London and Shannon and a full three-course meal between Shannon and New York. Before landing, guests are treated to afternoon tea, complete with warm scones and jam.
On the return, customers can enjoy preflight dining at the lounge in New York and rest during the sleeper service or dine on the aircraft. Prices start at £2,684 (Dh15,104) return.
q&a small planes, big benefits
Jonny Clark analyses why some business-class products survive and others fail:
What’s the secret to success in this market?
It seems to be in the size of plane used. Small planes, if specially equipped, can travel long distances more cost-effectively, using less fuel, fewer crew and not requiring to fill out the plane with high numbers of premium passengers to make the product work.
Is anyone offering a similar product to BA?
The private jet operator PrivatAir has leased out its 737 business jets to legacy carriers around the world. Operating unique high-yielding routes with extra business-class seating means the product has stood the test of time. Qatar Airways launched a similar product in May this year using one of its A319 aircraft from Doha to London. However, the aircraft was replaced last month for a larger plane for increased capacity.
What lounge offerings are available for those on the BA flight to JFK?
For those departing London City, the airline has turned gate 24 into a mini-lounge offering beverages, snacks and free Wi-Fi. The BA Galleries lounge in JFK features an Elemis Spa.
What other advantages are there?
There are two flights a day leaving London City for JFK or the reverse route between Monday and Friday, and one flight on Sundays. An advantage of flying from London City is that passengers can arrive and check-in as little as 15 minutes before the flight or 20 minutes for those with luggage.
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In The Heights
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda
Rating: ****
INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA
First Test: October 2-6, at Visakhapatnam
Second Test: October 10-14, at Maharashtra
Third Test: October 19-23, at Ranchi
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
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Brief scores:
Toss: Sindhis, elected to field first
Kerala Knights 103-7 (10 ov)
Parnell 59 not out; Tambe 5-15
Sindhis 104-1 (7.4 ov)
Watson 50 not out, Devcich 49
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Tales of Yusuf Tadros
Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
Hoopoe
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
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