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Why premium economy is gaining traction among global travelers

Why premium economy is gaining traction among global travelers
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Edward Plaisted CEO of Skytrax | LinkedIn

To provide long-haul travelers with a more comfortable experience without the high costs of business class, EVA Air introduced a new seating class between coach and business 30 years ago. This innovation offered additional space at a minimal extra cost, quickly becoming popular among passengers. Other airlines soon adopted similar offerings, making premium economy a common choice globally.

Premium economy is now considered an essential part of air travel. The "big three" US airlines, along with Japan Airlines (JAL) and Emirates, offer unique variations that include priority boarding and special menus as affordable extras. This has made it a profitable option for many airlines, leading to the retirement of international first-class by some US carriers.

Edward Plaisted of Skytrax remarked on Japan Airlines' consistent high standards: “This highest 5-Star Airline Rating for Japan Airlines is an excellent recognition of the high quality of the product and staff service experience that they provide to customers."

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The popularity of premium economy reflects travelers' growing preference for comfort over price. As demand remains steady, airlines have enhanced their offerings in this category with features like wider seats and improved services. Premium economy has even surpassed first class in terms of profitability for many carriers.

Japan Airlines received the 2024 Skytrax Awards' World's Best Premium Economy Class title, recognized for its spacious seating arrangements. Emirates is expanding its premium economy availability on more aircraft types like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777.

EVA Air was pivotal in launching this trend back in 1992 with its "Economy Deluxe Class," aiming to offer better amenities than standard economy at lower costs than business class. Since then, EVA Air has remained at the forefront by continually upgrading its premium economy products.

As commercial airplanes become larger and more sophisticated, opportunities arise to enhance onboard amenities further. The role of premium economy continues to grow within airline fleets worldwide.

Organizations Included in this History
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