Aer Lingus slashes price of US business class seats to €400

AER Lingus has slashed the price of its business class seats to €400 to the US — a seventh of the regular price.

In a further indication of plunging premium seat sales Etihad Airlines is selling two business class tickets for the price of one.

Airlines have been struggling to fill seats in its business class section over the last year.

Aer Lingus is offering business class to Boston and New York for €400 from Ireland, Chicago and Washington for €500 and San Francisco for €600.

The airline is promoting the offer telling passengers that travelling in business class is a “real treat”.

It said that once passengers receive their boarding card at the “exclusive” check-in desk they can enjoy pre-departure drinks in the business class lounge.

“On boarding the aircraft our crew will offer a glass of champagne as you settle in your wide, comfortable and spacious seat,” the airline offer said.

“During the flight you will be able to enjoy a fine dining experience complemented by a selection of some of the best wines in the air,” it adds.

On the Aer Lingus website yesterday flights from Shannon to New York were selling at €498.05 return for October 19 to 23 for economy class and for €2,730.80 for business class.

Aer Lingus has recently revamped its business class offering, quashing rumours it is considering abandoning the service.

The airline said it is fully committed to its business class service despite passenger numbers declining by more than a third in the first six months of the year.

There has been speculation that the former state airline is planning to cut back on its business class service and the airline was understood to have even considered abandoning it altogether.

Etihad said its promotion means that Irish customers can buy two business class return tickets from Dublin to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane via Abu Dhabi for €3,733, Johannesburg and Cape Town from €2,956 and Bangkok from €3,025.