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Danny Lee

As passengers seek flights that are the best value for money, the difference between the most and least generous carriers comes down to a matter of inches.
Cathay Pacific Airways ranks highly among its peers, research by the Post shows.
Hong Kong Cathay Pacific passengers to feel the squeeze in push for profits
The new economy class of the city’s flagship carrier tops its rivals, offering the most shoulder to shoulder space with 17.2 inches of in-seat width. At the other end of the scale, American Airlines offers as little as 16.2 inches.

Even among the best, airlines operating with a denser layout in economy still provide less seat width than a Citybus double decker, which offers 17.5 inches.

As regards legroom, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Air France, American Airlines and China Airlines share the spoils for most space – 32 inches – in a denser cabin. Air Canada and United Airlines are among the least generous, providing an inch less than the best in class.
Economy class squeeze: why Cathay Pacific needs to trade in passenger comfort for profits
On the entertainment front,the Dubai-based carrier soars ahead with the biggest in-flight screen at 13.3 inches, on which passengers may watch thousands of movies and TV programmes. In its newly upgraded economy cabin, Cathay Pacific takes second spot as it moves to a 12-inch monitor from nine inches. Of the airlines sampled, almost five inches separate the best and worst – with British Airways offering screens of just 8.9 inches.

As Cathay Pacific adds more seats to its aircraft there must be sufficient toilets for passengers.
The airline has a ratio of 50 passengers per toilet, seven washrooms in economy, on long-haul flights. The worst is Air Canada with 66 passengers per toilet, six washrooms, but Emirates does best with a ratio of 39 passengers per toilet, eight washrooms.

The entire passenger experience is also governed by the total number of seats airlines offer in their denser economy class cabins.
On long-haul flights the difference in passenger numbers at the rear of an aircraft is significant. Air Canada sacrifices premium seats in order to squeeze in 398 economy seats per aircraft, while 201 economy seats are offered on one type of Cathay Pacific jet, which also caters for passengers in first, business and premium economy.

Walter Wong, who flies on average one round trip a month in Cathay Pacific economy or business class, said regular travellers would vote with their wallets if the product being offered was not as good as that of rival airlines.
Cathay Pacific must push ahead with its restructuring
“My first priority is the comfort in term of personal space. Especially for flights of more than four hours,” he said. “Sitting in economy class, most of the passengers are price sensitive.”


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Cathay Pacific

Seat width, screen size and toilet ratios: which airlines are most generous?

In its newly upgraded economy cabin, Cathay Pacific is offering a 12-inch entertainment screen. Photo: Shutterstock

Cathay Pacific seating

SCMP

SCMP Graphics

Cathay Dragon flight attendants working at Cathay Pacific's check-in counters at the Hong Kong International Airport. 15MAR17 SCMP / Nora Tam

CityBus double decker

Economy class squeeze: why Cathay Pacific needs to trade in passenger comfort for profits

Pressure on the loss-making airline’s bottom line is forcing Cathay Pacific to sacrifice comfort for a much-needed revenue boost. An additional seat will be squeezed into each economy class row to fit 10, instead of 9, passengers. Photo: Danny Lee

Seats inside Cathay Pacific during a media preview. Photo: Danny Lee

Travelers stand in line near Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. check-in counters at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Friday, March 10, 2017. Cathay Pacific is scheduled to release full-year earnings results on March 15. Photographer: Anthony Kwan/Bloomberg

Cathay Pacific Chairman John Slosar attends Cathay Pacific Airways 2016 Interim Results at Island Shangri-la, in Admiralty. 17AUG16 SCMP / David Wong

SCMP Graphic

Hong Kong Cathay Pacific passengers to feel the squeeze in push for profits

Flagship carrier plans to add additional seat to each economy class row in a bid to reverse its losses

scmp

Interview with Rupert Hogg, Chief Operating Officer of Cathay Pacific Airways in Cathay City. 13DEC16 SCMP/Xiaomei Chen

Cathay Pacific passengers will sit 10 to a row under the new arrangement instead of nine. Photo: Shutterstock

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong economy

From seats to cabin entertainment screens and toilet queues, airlines must have the measure of their passengers
