AirAsiaX to offer Lie-Flat Beds

[Saab34]

Interesting move here. Basiacally XL seats were bit of a flop, so they are going to try something new, although they will be bumping the price up in the process.

AirAsia X will strip out its premium economy seats and install lie-flat business class beds in what is likely to see an escalation in competition on routes between Australia and Malaysia , Travel Today can reveal. The carrier’s chief executive Azran Osman-Rani said the seats on its A330s will be replaced with a better product, with economy class also to be overhauled. The move will see the 28 ‘XL’ seats replaced by 12 business class lie-flat beds
“We’ll start stripping them out one by one from the end of January through to July,” Osman-Rani said. Economy class will also see some
minor tweaks, with seats widened by half an inch. But the way the reconfiguration will take place will see capacity remain at 383, Osman-
Rani said. But in a blow for the carrier, the new A330 slated for delivery later this year will not be reconfigured. “We will have to change it again
next year,” Osman-Rani said. The move to lie-flat beds follows poor sales of AirAsia X’s premium economy seats. Priced roughly the same as full service carrier’s economy seats, they have failed to stir the market with the airline hoping lie-flat beds will provide a major point of difference. They are expected to be priced in line with competitor’s premium economy product. The airline is using the experience and expertise of Virgin, a 20 per cent stakeholder in AirAsia, to develop the cabin. Meanwhile, Osman-Rani also confirmed the carrier will introduce through-baggage check at Kuala Lumpur for Australians travelling on to London. “The price will be very reasonable,” he added

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