Big seats back in business for air travellers

Business travel is roaring back after a two-year slump, and the airlines are welcoming it with a selection of new amenities, including bigger, more comfortable seats. But the luxuries typically come at a price.

For example, Delta Air Lines announced plans to add a premium economy section - "economy comfort" - on all long-haul international flights by this summer. The airline will charge an extra $US80 to $US160 each way, depending on the route.

The new seats will feature up to 4 more inches of legroom and 50 per cent more recline than Delta's standard international economy-class seats. The seats will be installed in the first few rows of the economy cabin on more than 160 aircraft by this summer.

Dutch airline KLM recently announced the addition of a European business-class seat with more space and privacy because the middle seat will be left empty. The added charge over an economy seat can be as much as $US400 each way.

Starting next month, Cathay Pacific Airways will offer a new business-class seat that is nearly 2 inches wider and 4 inches longer than the current business-class seats when it converts into a lie-flat bed. The new seats will be featured on Cathay Pacific's Boeing 777-300ERs from Los Angeles to Australia. A round-trip ticket could set you back nearly $12,000, depending on the route and time of year.

With the economy on the mend and businesses spending more for travel, Michael W. McCormick, executive director of the Global Business Travel Association, said he was not surprised by the new offers. "These seats are a good return on investment," he said.

Jami Counter, senior director of SeatGuru, a website that reviews airline seats, expects to see more of the same. "We look forward to seeing what other seat enhancements airlines roll out down the line."

MCT