Virgin Blue considering splitting aircraft into Premium, Classic Economy and low cost seating

Virgin Blue announced its "airline of the future" project is currently under way and may include splitting its aircraft cabins into Premium, Classic Economy and low cost seating (The Australian, 18-Sep-09). According to CEO, Brett Godfrey, the additional seats would allow the carrier to reduce its costs by 3%. Mr Godfrey added that earlier plans to launch a separate ultra LCC were now unlikely to happen. Premium economy seating will be exteded to all aircraft.

Virgin Blue: "I would much rather have one airline that flies 10 flights a day that services both segments of the market than trying to differentiate and pretend that some markets are purely leisure and some markets are purely business…We are in the middle, we put our hand up, we're happy to be there. But we're certainly not caught, we're exactly where we want to be and like...Toyota, relevant and attractive to the vast majority of the market." Brett Godfrey, CEO. Source: The Australian, 18-Sep-09.