Business class airline

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 service.

The most prominent such airlines have been Eos Airlines, MAXjet Airways, SilverJet and L'Avion 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. Another all business class airline, La Compagnie was founded in 2013, providing service between Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and Newark Liberty International Airport.

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. L'Avion continued to trade, and was purchased by British Airways for its subsidiary OpenSkies at a price of £54m in July 2008. OpenSkies operated an all Boeing 757 business-class service from Paris Orly Airport during October 2008 to June 2012. Since June 2012, the premium economy Eco class was reintroduced to OpenSkies.

In October 2009 British Airways launched a unique and innovative service, the first longhaul jet operations using a STOLport runway, named "Club World London City" (aka CWLCY) offering a business class only Airbus A318 service between New York JFK and London City Airport. The westbound service touches down in Ireland to refuel. To minimise wasted time CWLCY passengers on BA001 go through US Immigration and Customs in Shannon Airport as the aircraft refuels. The flight then lands as domestic flights into New York JFK, without the need to clear customs again. Eastbound flights are direct from New York JFK to London City Airport LCY. It 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.

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