Emirates and Qatar Airways are competing to win more high-spending passengers as they prepare to reveal new premium cabin upgrades.
Amid an ongoing feud with US rivals who want to limit their access to the lucrative transatlantic market, the pair are preparing to unveil premium cabin improvements – often seen as one of their biggest competitive advantages.
Emirates will reveal a number of cabin upgrades at the ITB travel industry gathering in Berlin next month. Among them is a larger onboard lounge on its A380 double-decker.
The Friends star Jennifer Aniston made the horseshoe-shaped bar famous in a TV advertising campaign designed to showcase the comfort of the Emirates cabin.
The Emirates president Tim Clark said the A380 onboard lounge had become an iconic feature of the plane and that passengers appreciated the space, especially on long haul flights.
“We have increased the seating space and also made it more intimate and conducive for our passengers to socialise,” he said. Qatar Airways also plans to show its new business class seat at the show, which it says will blur the line between business and first class travel.
Etihad Airways began to offer A380 flights with onboard butlers in 2014.
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