Bangkok--28 Nov--Grayling (Thailand) Mr. Kevin McQuillan, newly appointed Manager for Qantas / British Airways Thailand, today announced the arrival of a new standard of business class travel. The new Club World experience is now available on all daily British Airways flights from Bangkok to London and from Bangkok to Sydney. With this THB 6.5 billion investment, the ‘designed around you’ new Club World experience anticipates passengers’ every need pre-flight, onboard and after landing. Approximately 2,000 people were involved in the re-launch of Club World, including engineers, suppliers, designers and customers. From concept to design to implementation, every element of the new Club World experience takes into account the requirements of the modern premium traveller, offering passengers unprecedented levels of comfort, privacy, flexibility and technology. Since the airline first introduced fully-flat business class beds to the world in 2000, British Airways has continued to lead the way as a pioneer in redefining industry standards. As well as increasing the width of its six-feet long fully-flat beds by 25 per cent, British Airways has introduced a new unique ‘z’ bed position, found by NASA scientists to be the position the body naturally adopts in a zero gravity environment. It supports the knees and back in a highly ergonomic seated recline, which also extends the seat to six-foot-six inches — all designed to ensure customers achieve a feeling of complete relaxation, rest and well-being. Electronically-operated privacy screens, using a new technology called Lumisty, assure privacy to sleep, work or enjoy the upgraded Club World entertainment system, whilst still allowing cabin crew to offer attentive service. Customers can choose from more than 100 movie and TV show options, 70 CDs and 20 games through the cutting edge audio-video-on-demand system, which offers customers ultimate control over what to watch and when. No more worrying about the trying to locate the remote control, all this is accessible through an interactive touch-screen panel. Space underneath the seat next door to each customer has also been utilised to provide a drawer where they can store a laptop. Those who fancy a midnight snack in-between meals can indulge themselves whenever they please by using the new on-board Club Kitchen, which offers is a wide range of food and beverage choices that are available whenever temptation strikes. Mr. McQuillan revealed: “Feedback has shown that customers are now looking for a greater amount of choice and control during their journey. As such, the entire new Club World concept is designed around the customer, however he or she chooses to use it - and the product and service provided is second to none.” Commenting on his new appointment, Mr. McQuillan added: “I look forward to joining the Bangkok-based team of dedicated professionals to work together on extending and enhancing the British Airways’ travel experience to our customers in Thailand”. During the cabin’s re-design, an additional 434 Club World seats will be added a capacity increase of eight per cent across the fleet. When completed, British Airways will fly even more business class beds around the world than any other airline. Notes to editors: - British Airways operates four flights per day (28 per week) to and from Bangkok serving direct London Heathrow on the Northern route and Sydney on the Southern route - British Airways is increasing the number of Club World seats across its long-haul fleet from 4,958 to 5,392 to satisfy demand. - British Airways flies more beds to more destinations than any other airline with 5,000 Club World beds to more than 70 destinations - New Club World will be installed on 57 Boeing 747s and 43 Boeing 777s by 2008 For further information please contact: Stephanie Batot or Nuttaporn Tangwonsan Grayling (Thailand) Tel: +66 2 231 8434 Email: [email protected] / [email protected]