LAN Airlines to launch New Premium Business Class on Australasian Routes

LAN Airlines is to launch a new Premium Business Class on its Australasian routes from April, 2009, combining the current Business and First Class cabins on its long haul Airbus A340-300 aircraft into a single luxury product.

The key feature of the LAN Premium Business cabin will be a significant increase in personal space, with the introduction of 42 sleeper seats with 180 degree full flat recline, and a huge 74 inches (183 centimetres) of legroom between each seat – a 32% increase over the space offered in the current Business Class.

Stage 1 of the Premium Business Class programme was launched last year on LAN’s fleet of Boeing 767-300 aircraft, which fly key routes within South America and to the USA, Canada, Mexico, Tahiti and Easter Island.

“The new Premium Business product has proved to be enormously popular with passengers in these markets,” said Rodrigo Contreras, LAN’s General Manager Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

“This month, we will start conversion work on the first of our five Airbus A340s, the aircraft type we use to operate our daily flights from Sydney to Auckland and Santiago, Chile,” added Mr Contreras. “The new-look A340s will be introduced progressively in this market, ahead of the full launch of Premium Business Class from Australia and New Zealand in March next year.”

The Premium Business product - arranged in a 2 x 2 x 2 configuration - will feature a range of new and improved personal features in a completely redesigned cabin, which includes the use of elegant redwood wall and seat panels.

To ensure a peaceful environment for quality rest on long haul flights, seats in LAN’s Premium Business cabin provide a generous width of 25 inches (58.4 centimetres) when fully reclined and feature a privacy divider between passengers.

Each Premium Business passenger will have a large personal video screen with both touchscreen or remote control navigation, and an extensive Video on Demand entertainment system. There is also an extensive audio selection.

For passengers who prefer to read, or for dining, each Premium Business seat will be equipped with a flexible LED lamp, with three levels of brightness. And for added comfort, there will be a small storage locker beneath the seat in front, as well as retractable coat hooks.

Premium Business Class passengers will be treated to personalised service from LAN cabin crew, and a range of enticing menus developed by renowned international chefs. In addition to local Australian and New Zealand wines, passengers also will be offered a selection of the finest Chilean and Argentinean wines, chosen by Latin America’s only Master Somellier, Hector Vergara.

As well as the new Premium Business cabin, LAN also will revamp the Economy Class cabins of its Airbus A340s, again including a new touchscreen or remote controlled personal video system with access to 32 movies – eight new release blockbusters and 24 popular feature films – plus 55 short programmes and 14 video games. Passengers will also access over 500 music CDs.

There will be new seats featuring adjustable winged headrests and seatback cupholders for increased personal convenience, enabling passengers to enjoy a drink without having to fold down the seatback tray.

The new-look, two class Airbus A340s will seat 260 passengers – 42 in Premium Business Class and 218 in Economy Class.

In preparation for the introduction of the reconfigured A340s, LAN has ceased selling First Class on services between Sydney, Auckland and Santiago instead offering 42 Business Class and 218 Economy seats. All of LAN’s Airbus A340s are expected to feature the new interiors by April 2009.

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