Skift Take

With all the cabin improvements revealed in the Gulf and the Asia/Pacific markets, it makes us wish other airlines around the world would get inspired to compete on quality.

Virgin Australia has given the world its first glimpse of a new Premium Economy cabin which was designed to fit the needs of business and leisure travelers on long-haul routes.

In its design, Virgin Atlantic has focused on giving passengers more legroom, and more comfortable seats than they will find in the main cabin, but kept the product sufficiently differentiated from its Business Class cabin to keep that product attractive for those who want to spend a bit more for lie-flat beds and more private seating.

Virgin Australia describes the full features and perks of its new Premium Economy features as:

  • An exclusive and intimate cabin size of 24 seats;
  • A seat pitch of 41 inches, with more legroom than any other Australian airline;
  • A plated meal service inspired by business class, tailored to the guest and accompanied by a selection of wines from our Business Class cellar;
  • A Premium Larder for self-service food and beverages for the exclusive use of Premium Economy guests;
  • Crew trained in Premium service; and
  • Dedicated check-in, Priority Boarding and Priority baggage (up to 64kg/140 lbs of baggage), enabling guests to speed through airport formalities.

“We understand that Premium Economy guests want to arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and taken care of, so we’ve designed a more spacious and comfortable Premium Economy cabin and product, with a service that many other airlines reserve for their Business Class,” the airline states. “Guests will receive a plated meal service and have access to a new Premium Larder for self-service food and beverages, for exclusive use of Premium Economy guests. We are confident that this will be the best Premium Economy experience flying from Australia across the Pacific.”

>> Related: World’s Best Airlines for Long-Haul Premium Economy

Passengers can mix and match their meals, to suit their tastes, and decide when they’d like to be served their meal during the flight. The new Premium Larder will be kept stocked with assorted alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, light meal options and snacks so passengers can graze at leisure.

Virgin Australia’s new Premium Economy will fly on the airline’s new Boeing 777 fleet which will launch later this year, and will complement the airline’s new Business Class cabin revealed last year.

It will compete in this heavily contested market with Premium Cabins of rivals Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and others vying to bring added comfort and flexibility to the middle-range entrepreneur business traveler and more upscale leisure market.

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Tags: virgin australia

Photo credit: Virgin Australia reveals new Premium Economy cabin for its Boeing 777 aircraft. Virgin Australia

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