MaxJet to fly to China…

Apologises if this has already been posted, but thought it was quite interesting.

From upgradetravelbetter.com:

For just over a year, the major airlines have been fighting it out with all-business class upstarts like Maxjet, Eos, and L’Avion for trans-Atlantic premium traffic. Most of those seats are going from New York to London. But the Pacific has been conspicuously absent, with the skies still dominated by the big network carriers and their traditional economy/business/first configurations. Now Maxjet wants to fly to China.

…Maxjet proposes a route that takes passengers from Los Angeles to Seattle, and then on to Shanghai.

…A flight from New York to London isn’t really that long, and most people can manage that in coach. But a long-haul flight from North America to Asia or Australia in coach? Brutal.

…So why hasn’t there been an entrepreneurial company that sells all-business flights to somewhere in Asia?

…Perhaps the problem is filling planes that can actually reach Asia from the U.S. without a refueling stop in Alaska. Filling a 747, 777, or A340 with nothing but business class passengers might be tough for a new company, and most smaller planes don’t have the range to make it across the ocean. (Note that Maxjet’s proposed flight leaves from Seattle, not LAX or SFO, which cuts a bit of mileage from the flight.)

…Perhaps China isn’t the right route for Maxjet. But Korea or Japan might make sense. Bring on the trans-Pacific competition.

http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/07/19/all-business-class-to-china/

Anyone got any thoughts on this at all?