Virgin Australia sets a new world standard in domestic Business Class

Virgin Australia launched its new Airbus A330 Business Class suites, setting a new standard in domestic business class around the world.

Virgin Australia’s new wide-body Business Class experience, ‘The Business’, will be available on its entire Airbus A330 fleet at the end of October.

Key features include:
The world’s longest and widest fully lie-flat bed in domestic business class;
Reverse herringbone cabin layout, maximising privacy and enabling 100 per cent direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration;
The latest in in-flight comfort, with ample space to multi-task, customised triple-layer seat cushion supported by a hammock sub-frame and a turndown service with memory foam mattress toppers and high-grade cotton pillows and doonas;
High Definition 16" touch screens featuring the Virgin Australia Entertainment seatback system with an enhanced graphical user interface;
Individualised, award-winning service[1] from dedicated Virgin Australia cabin crew;
A restaurant-style, hand-delivered fine dining experience enabling guests to dine when they want, with new Luke Mangan-designed menus and premium Australian wines; and
A world-first collaboration with Nespresso which aims to deliver the finest coffee in the sky.
Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer John Borghetti said: “Today, Virgin Australia has once again changed the game in domestic business class travel.

“In 2011, we brought choice and competition to Business Class in Australia for the first time in a decade. The launch of the Business Class suites today sets a new standard in domestic business class around the world.

“We believe this new product will ensure that Virgin Australia is the number one choice for premium travellers on the all-important trans-continental routes.

“Later this year, Virgin Australia will change the game again with the launch of its new long-haul Business Class on our Boeing 777 flights to Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi.

“Virgin Australia is committed to maintaining a competitive advantage in customer experience. The new suites are a major product innovation under Virgin Vision 2017 and an important part of our strategy,” Mr Borghetti said.

The new 1-2-1 seating configuration will ensure every guest has 100 per cent direct aisle access and ample privacy to work, rest and unwind. A new turndown service with memory foam mattress topper, large pillows and a doona has been designed to ensure guests arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and recharged. For guests travelling in pairs, the centre suites include a sliding privacy screen that can be opened or closed.

In addition to the physical transformation, an enhanced restaurant-style meal service with new Luke Mangan menus has been designed, enabling guests to dine whenever they choose. For guests wishing to maximise the time to work and rest while on board, a new ‘Express Dining’ option is available.

The suites, originally inspired by the interiors of some of the world’s most premium automotive designs, were customised in conjunction with renowned design agency, Tangerine London, Virgin Australia Creative Director Hans Hulsbosch, of leading brand agency Hulsbosch, and manufactured by B/E Aerospace.

New long-haul Business Class suites, a redesigned Business Class bar and a new Premium Economy cabin will be progressively introduced on the airline’s Boeing 777 fleet of aircraft, which will commence reconfiguration in November and fly to Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles.

New Airbus A330 Business Class features
Individual suites in a 1-2-1 seat configuration which convert into the longest and widest domestic fully lie-flat bed (Length: 80” Width: 28”)
Reverse herringbone cabin layout, maximising privacy and enabling 100% direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 configuration;
Retractable privacy screen dividing centre seats.
Simply tailored, hopsack seat upholstery with leather head and arm rests and customised triple-layer seat cushion supported by a hammock sub-frame.
Unique tablet holder specifically designed for Virgin Australia as well as dedicated side console that expands your workspace with high power USB and universal power socket.
Three types of adjustable lighting including reading light, soft ambient lamp and brighter overhead light.
High Definition 16" touch screens with an enhanced graphical user interface for the Virgin Australia Entertainment seatback system and 400 hours of entertainment.
Enhanced restaurant-style, hand-delivered fine dining service enabling guests to dine when they want with new Luke Mangan-designed menus, new table linen and Virgin Australia’s iconic Opera House salt and pepper shakers
Turndown service by Cabin Crew with memory foam mattress toppers and high-grade cotton pillows and doonas, day blanket and pillow for daytime services.
Amenity kit featuring REN cosmetics.
Virgin Australia and Nespresso brew a world-first collaboration
Virgin Australia and Nespresso announced a world-first product collaboration aimed at delivering the finest quality coffee in the sky. Virgin Australia’s newly refitted Business Class cabin on board the Airbus A330 fleet will feature the first ‘Nespresso by B/E Aerospace’ machines in the world.

The purpose-built machine is designed to overcome the challenges of making coffee at altitude, by achieving Nespresso’s exact standards of:
Coffee flow time, volume and temperature;
Coffee yield; and
Crema and milk foam quality.
As part of the development, the machine was tested in an altitude chamber and at high elevations similar to the cabin altitude to confirm the coffee it produced was consistent with the quality achieved on the ground.

Virgin Australia Chief Customer Officer Mark Hassell said: “Our partnership with Nespresso is one of the important signature touches that will see Virgin Australia set a new world standard in domestic business class travel.

“Guests on Virgin Australia’s new Airbus A330 Business Class will be the first in the world to experience this new technology, aimed at creating the finest coffee at 30,000 feet.

“Our Airbus A330 Business Class dining service is designed to ensure our guests arrive at their destination feeling refreshed and recharged, and coffee plays an important part in that,” Mr Hassell said.

General Manager at Nespresso Oceania, Loic Rethore said: “We are excited to partner with Virgin Australia to be able to exclusively offer quality coffee experiences, now in the sky. Both Nespresso and Virgin Australia share similar values, in that we are both committed to innovation, sustainability, exceptional quality and excellence in customer service.

“Working with B/E Aerospace and Virgin Australia, we have been able to bring together the expertise and technology required to serve Nespresso’s range of high quality Grands Crus coffees on an aircraft,” he said.

Virgin Australia and Nespresso have carefully chosen the on board coffee selection to complement the palate, as taste differs slightly in the air, and will offer three unique blends at launch including Ristretto Intenso, Espresso Forte and Espresso Decaffeinato.

Virgin Australia’s resident head chef, Luke Mangan said: “Over the years we have been able to continue to delight our customers with unexpected food and beverage experiences on board. Together we have tackled how to best overcome the fact that we lose 30 per cent of our ability to taste in the sky and now, working with Nespresso will enable us to have an even more creative approach when it comes to developing coffee-inspired drinks and on board treats.”

Virgin Australia is rolling out an exciting training program, together with Nespresso, for Business Class cabin crew, in which Nespresso educates cabin crew on the use of the technology, the Nespresso Grands Crus available on board and overall coffee knowledge.

Nespresso and Virgin Australia will welcome the following coffee blends on board:
Ristretto Intenso - A daring blend of South and Central American Robustas and Arabica, Ristretto Intenso is a full coffee of exceptional intensity with notes of pepper and a creamy texture.
Espresso Forte – Made exclusively from South and Central American Arabicas, the complex aroma of this intensely roasted espresso is a balance of strong and fruity notes.
Espresso Decaffeinato – Dark-roasted South American, Arabicas with a touch of Robusta bring out the subtle cocoa and roasted cereal notes of this full-bodied decaffeinated espresso.
Virgin Australia will feature the following coffee styles on board:
Cappuccino
Espresso
Macchiato
Long Black
Ristretto.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia