[imagesource:gencraftai]

If the memory of strolling through the first-class section to board a plane eludes you, it’s possible that the airline has discreetly phased it out.

Following the trend of other airlines, American Airlines has publicly announced its plan to progressively phase out international first-class seating, making it the final domestic carrier to take this step. Air Canada, United, and Delta have already ceased offering first-class services on non-domestic charters.

“We don’t want to put first class in the aeroplanes because it is very expensive real estate,” said Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker at a conference in 2023, per Explore. His remarks underscore a prevailing trend among airlines to increase the number of seats on planes, even if it requires retrofitting, as exemplified by the actions taken by AA and JetBlue to sustain profitability.

A snazzy suite can cost $126,000 (R2,3 million) to create and that figure doesn’t include expensive perks like champagne and caviar.

Additionally, changes in design and types of passengers have also steered airlines towards the demise of first-class.

Nowadays, business class is booming – and part of the reason for this is that the offering is better than it has ever been before.

Airlines are combining first class into business class, taking up less space, and allowing maximum profits to pour in while passengers remain satisfied with premium seating.

In 2000, British Airways changed the game again by becoming the first carrier to provide seats in business class that could lie flat. Now, American Airlines plans to offer “Flagship Suite” seats that will come with beds that lie flat and doors for privacy to replace first class on international flights

Sounds like a simple rebranding, if anything, but we’ll go with it.

The other thing is that more regular people want a slightly elevated experience for leisure purposes, whereas first-class was mostly inhabited by corporate bigshots pre-pandemic.

Then, aircrafts are also changing. With A380 jumbo jets barely being produced anymore, an aircraft with only a single deck cannot house this type of luxury within its walls. Both Singapore Airlines and Emirates have adapted by creating mini-apartments for their highest-paying ticket holders in their double-decker airbuses.

Plus, more and more of the uber-rich are deciding to go the extra mile and actually purchase or hire a private jet instead, which means that they eschew first class altogether.

[source:explore]