AUSTRALIA. Economy class passengers could have access to duty free shops onboard Qantas flights in the near future.
The Australian airline has placed orders for 12 Airbus A380s, which are offered with a variety of additional facilities that can include shops, inflight casinos and lounges.
First deliveries are expected in 2006. Airbus executive vice-president of customer affairs John Leahy said the A380 would have +50% more floor space than the Boeing 747, but only a third more seating.
Economy could be fitted with a duty free shop and a lounge bar upstairs.
Leahy said features including a casino, shops, private cabins, showers and exercise areas had been discussed with several airlines.
“Suppose you put in a casino, you don’t want to limit it to just business and first class,” he added. “[For] anything that “¦ would generate more revenue, like a duty free shop, you’d want everybody to be able to go.”
At the Paris air show in June, the A380 manufacturer Airbus said that several airline customers had asked for duty free shops to be built onboard.
The 555-seat giant aircraft, each costing US$275 million, are being developed by Airbus with first deliveries in 2006 and 2007 around the world.
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