Despite Cathay Pacific business class upgrade, few passengers fly

Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific Airways recently said that it is flying fewer passengers in its business class flights despite spending a good amount on upgrading its business class cabins. Singapore Airlines is also facing a similar fate.

Media reports said that both Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines have spent $200 million on new business class seats and installing larger TV screens in their business class cabins.

Cathay Pacific Airways said that in January this year it has introduced promotional business class fares. The airline, however, said that the sales at the front of the business class cabin fell short of its expectations in December 2012. 

According to reports, Australia’s national flag carrier Qantas Airways also offered 28 percent discounts on return premium tickets to Hong Kong during the holiday season. The reports indicated that the prices of premium ticket for travel between Asia and the U.S. averaged $5859 in December last year, their lowest level since 2009. However, in Australia the prices of business class tickets dropped 30 percent from a year earlier to a record low.