Business class airline

A business class airline is an airline concept which emerged during the mid-first decade of the 21st century a number of airlines that operated all-business class service.[1]

History

In the decade of 2000s, several dedicated business class airlines, including Eos Airlines, MAXjet Airways, SilverJet and L'Avion have been launched.[1] 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 in 2008 and L'Avion in 2009.[2][3]

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.[1]

Airlines with all-business class service

Until October 2013, Singapore Airlines flew the longest and biggest all-business class flights on their Airbus A340-500 from Singapore to New York, also the world's longest scheduled flight, and to Los Angeles.[7]

Lufthansa once offered all-business class service from 2002 on routes from Germany to India, Middle East and North America using leased Privatair Boeing Business Jets and Airbus Corporate Jets.[8] However, those services have been reconfigured to include an economy class section on board.[9][10] The Swiss International Air Lines in the Lufthansa group also offered all-business class flights with Boeing Business Jet between Zurich and Newark, before being replaced by three Airbus A340 aircraft in 2012.[11]

List of all-business class airline carriers

For the majority of its history Midwest Airlines offered an all-business class service and cabin configuration in its DC-9 and Boeing 717 aircraft. This was discontinued in its later years in an effort to financially survive before being shut down as an individually certificated independent airline by its new Republic Airways Holdings owners.

• Air Atlanta (defunct)
• British Airways - London City Airport to JFK Airport operated in Airbus A318 (defunct)
• Eos Airlines (defunct)[20]
• L'Avion (defunct)
• La Compagnie

Other all-business class (charter) airline carriers d/b/a's

• PrivatAir ops for Lufthansa Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines

List of present all-business class routes

Of major, flag, legacy, national, network, mainline or non-mainline airline carriers.

• La Compagnie - both Milan Malpensa Airport and Orly Airport to Newark Liberty operated in Airbus A321neo
• beOnd - as of 2025 offers flights from Milan Malpensa Airport, King Khalid International Airport, Zurich Airport, and Al Maktoum International Airport to and from Velana International Airport in the Maldives.

List of premium service "airline within an airline" marketing brands

• British Airways Club World London City
• JetBlue Mint
• Midway Metrolink
• United p.s.