Europe
US Airways Upgrades Business Class
US Airways has announced that in January 2008 they will begin installing new "near lie-flat seats" in international Business Class cabins on B767 aircraft which currently cover many European routes. That news will certainly be met with enthusiasm among frequent US Airways travelers crossing the pond in the vintage Business Class furniture now in place.
According to our sources, the new seat offers adjustable head- and footrests, a pulldown privacy divider, and a wide array of on-demand entertainment options delivered through individual foldaway flat screens. Seat pitch is 62 inches and recline is 170 degrees.
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Those numbers aren't exactly stunning, and even with a 170 degree recline, the seat angle looks steep. In general, though, the B767's specs are favorable to those on the A330 which currently shares duty on US Airways' European routes.
Any equipment upgrade to US Airways Business Class is guaranteed to be an improvement -- there's no issue there. Whenever a Mass Market Carrier makes the effort to revamp a cabin, there’s hope they'll turn an eye to exceeding the standards of that class. A look at the specs suggests US Airways has made a firm commitment to the middle ground, but numbers don’t tell the whole story. Until we can take a test flight we'll remain cautiously optimistic.
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