Airline passenger news and views

This is one of those ideas that keeps coming around. I would have booked with Silverjet had they been around long enough. Their fares were not expensive and the concept was a good one.

I have found business only airlines excellent in the past. From the moment we stepped through the door at the Silverjet Lounge in Luton to arriving in Dubai it was smiles and excellent service from all the staff. It was the same on the return trip. On the outward flight with the window blinds closed it was hard to believe that we were actually on a plane. The food and drink served on board were excellent. We shall certainly use Silverjet again to return to Dubai.

Luton to Newark Silverjet return - absolutely fantastic business only flight. First class service from first class staff. An absolute pleasure to fly with Silverjet and well worth travelling down from North Yorkshire. No complaints whatsoever, only praise.

Branson stated in 2008 “All business-class airlines are losing their shirts. They seem to be failing dramatically.” There are days when business travellers all go in one direction and other days when they do not travel. So we believe it is better to carry cargo, premium economy and economy passengers as well. I wonder if Virgin Atlantic has had a turn around since?

Seeing that most of these business class airlines went bust a few years ago I guess we might never know if they were a good idea or not. In the current economic climate I cannot see any airlines investing/taking a risk on similar ventures.

The combination of several factors was responsible for the demise of Eos, MAXjet and Silverjet; the weakening global economy, the steep rise in fuel prices and the increase of competition on the transatlantic route. These same problems apply today.

I would of thought the lack of flight frequency might hurt business-only airlines? There would only be a limited amount of these aircraft flying from London to the US.

Given the right set of circumstances an all business class airline, operating profitably with enough aircraft could potentially survive but the question must remain how long they could survive particularly when the aviation industry is in one of its downward spirals?.

I can only see these business-only airlines working when the aviation industry and UK economy stabilise, we may have to wait a while!

Virgin in my view would be the airline to do this, their service is second to none, I feel as those above me, that the economy has to stabilise before they even contemplate this however.

Shouldn't they be thinking about how to improve Economy class before they contemplate this?

My husband's company used one of these companies before it went bankrupt. He said it was really very good and did exactly what it claimed to do. There were no children, no noise and usually no delays.

Was it successful, obviously not because it failed.

My husband reckoned it was much better than the equivalent business class travel and would like to see the idea taken up again by someone. Anyway, this is feedback from one satisfied user.