Management at Continental Airlines believes that the roll-out of lie-flat seats on its long-haul aircraft has reversed a trend of losing some customers that prefer the amenity.
The new Star Alliance member began introducing the lie-flat seats on its Boeing 777-200ERs in late 2009, and expects to equip its 767-400ERs, 767-200s and 757-200 aircraft with the same product. Its 787s on order will also feature the flat-bed seating.
Previously the carrier has said installation across all fleet types should be complete in 2012.
"We're getting great feedback on our new lie-flat seat," said Continental's chief marketing officer Jim Compton during a 21 January earnings call. "We believe that we've been losing some customers that we otherwise could have attracted especially on really long-haul routes because we didn't have flat-bed seats."
Compton says Continental expects to have the 777s equipped by the end of 2010, and installations were recently completed on the first 757-200. Flightglobal's ACAS fleet database shows Continental has 20 777-200ERs in operation, and the carrier is taking delivery of two of the type this year.
Continental's former partner in the SkyTeam alliance Delta Air Lines today announced plans to install lie-flat seats in business class on 90 long-haul aircraft including 14 Boeing 767-400ERs, 52 767-300ERs 16 747-400s and eight 777-200ERs. Delta says once the installations are complete, each fleet type will feature full lie-flat seats on all aircraft.
Both Delta and Continental have a significant presence in the New York market from Continental's hub at Newark Liberty International airport and Delta through its hub at John F Kennedy International airport.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
