en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Concorde entered commercial service in the 1970s, offering a luxurious flight experience at supersonic speeds, but only 14 were used for regular commercial flights—7 for British Airways and 7 for Air France. The aircraft's operating cost was estimated at up to $29,000 per hour, and despite being comparable in length to the Boeing 787-9, it could only accommodate about 100 passengers. British Airways still turned a profit by selling all seats as first class. After the Air France Flight 4590 accident in 2000, Air France retired the Concorde in May 2003, and British Airways' last commercial flight took off in October of the same year. In its final days of operation, British Airways discounted Concorde tickets to near business class prices, achieving full occupancy and higher revenue.

The core product of an airline has always been flight services. During the Concorde's operation, British Airways sold two products: subsonic flights (with seat options similar to each other) and supersonic Concorde flights (luxury flights at twice the speed of other aircraft). The rarity of the Concorde made it a luxury item, with the aircraft itself being the product. In subsonic flights of the same era, the experience difference between first class and economy was limited. In 1988, British Airways' Boeing 747-200 featured first class recliners (arranged in pairs in the nose) and Club World recliners (seven rows on the main deck and four rows on the upper deck). Today, British Airways' Boeing 777-300ER offers Club World private suites with sliding doors, direct aisle access, and fully flat beds, while first class is an enlarged version of Club Suites with upgraded dining and ground experience. Emirates' A380 first class features showers, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines' A380 offer two-seat suites side by side, and Etihad Airways also introduced a three-room suite called "The Residence," including a living room, a bathroom with shower, and a separate bedroom.

Today, full-service airlines generally sell two products: economy and premium economy as standard transport products, and business and first class as independent luxury products. Typical wide-body aircraft cabin layouts are: economy class 2-3-2, 2-4-2, 3-3-3, or 3-4-3; premium economy 2-2-2, 2-3-2, or 2-4-2; business class 2-2-2 or 1-2-1; first class 1-2-1 or 1-1-1. Economy class tickets offer basic services (seat and some meals), premium economy is an upgraded version of the same experience; business class provides comfort and privacy, while first class is a further upgrade of that experience.

Traditional tickets are considered commodities, with most passengers prioritizing price and schedule. Through innovation in premium cabins, airlines achieve differentiation. Delta Air Lines has invested comprehensively in onboard products, aiming to build loyalty across all cabins. In 2025, Delta Air Lines earned $5 billion in revenue, United Airlines $3.35 billion, and American Airlines $111 million. Delta has achieved a premium brand image through differentiation, becoming the most profitable airline in the U.S., with its passengers willing to pay higher fares even in economy class. United Airlines has successfully replicated this model through strategies such as installing onboard screens on domestic flights.

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