Business Class only services are in an interesting proposition as they fill specific needs – for example the classic British Airways London City to New York service serves the needs of Canary Wharf and New York. The upcoming Qatar Airways service will operate at times convenient to business needs.
It seems SAS is getting in on the action with a new service – between Stavanger and Houston to serve oil business needs … with a Boeing 737-700.
- SVG – IAH = 4844 miles Map – Great Circle Mapper – www.gcmap.com
A 737-700? Yes. The very same that’s used by many airlines on short-haul services. This is more precisely a Boeing 737 Boeing Business Jet-1, which is based on the 737-700.
This aircraft will be configured with 44 business class long haul seats only on the plane as a business class only plane, and will be wet-leased from PrivatAir in a special SAS livery, which should handle the extended range reasonably well.
The service commences 20th August 2014, and will operate six days a week (Saturday excluded). Whilst actual timings have not been released, SAS are promising the timings will make reasonable connections in Norway, as well as in the Americas with connections towards Mexico, Los Angeles, Dallas and Phoenix.
Tickets go on sale for this business class service on the 29th April.
It’s an innovative service… as these business class services always are. Providing they can get companies to pay to use it – it could be a winner.
Want to keep up with me at GhettoIFE? Join me either by signing up for my newsletter, or follow me on Twitter @GhettoIFE for when there are posts to the blog!
Hmmmm looks like a classic “oil route”. In which case I hope you don’t mind me shamelessly plugging a couple of posts?
One return trip can be enough to get Star Alliance Gold:
http://boardingarea.com/pointstobemade/2014/03/23/best-ways-to-earn-aegean-airlines-star-alliance-gold-flying-economy-class-only/
And the oil workers should sign up for the respective additional loyalty programmes:
http://boardingarea.com/pointstobemade/2013/05/01/introducing-lufthansas-oil-and-energy-club-and-flying-blue-petroleum-club/
Feel free to plug away on my site too! 😛
I’ll let it slide 😉
Looks like an oil route alright. SVG is a nice little airport. The only downside is there are no lounges or fast track security.
Given the frequency of oil workers out of SVG, I think nearly all the passengers would be in fast track security anyway!
And plus, isn’t the Norwegian culture one of total egalitarianism anyway?
Fast track at SVG just opened! http://www.aftenbladet.no/energi/aenergy/Stavanger-Sola-Airport-gets-Fast-Track-security-facility-3376197.html#.Uzm499yPNEA