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| Aviation in 2017: Supersonic jets and premium economy | Aviation in 2017: Supersonic jets and premium economy |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| It has been a tough few years for the aviation industry and 2016 proved no different. | It has been a tough few years for the aviation industry and 2016 proved no different. |
| Carriers had to navigate the collapse in oil prices, multiple plane tragedies including EgyptAir in May, the Chapecoense crash in Colombia as well as fire-prone Samsung phones. | Carriers had to navigate the collapse in oil prices, multiple plane tragedies including EgyptAir in May, the Chapecoense crash in Colombia as well as fire-prone Samsung phones. |
| However, it is worth noting that last year was actually one of the safest in modern aviation history. | However, it is worth noting that last year was actually one of the safest in modern aviation history. |
| So what does 2017 hold in store? Here are some trends to watch out for. | So what does 2017 hold in store? Here are some trends to watch out for. |
| Supersonic passenger planes | Supersonic passenger planes |
| Remember Concorde? It's been more than a decade since the plane was retired from service. | Remember Concorde? It's been more than a decade since the plane was retired from service. |
| But British billionaire Sir Richard Branson is looking to usher in the age of the supersonic flight once again; and make it affordable to the masses. | But British billionaire Sir Richard Branson is looking to usher in the age of the supersonic flight once again; and make it affordable to the masses. |
| His company Virgin Galactic is working with US start-up Boom to develop the XB-1, which is being plugged as the world's fastest civil aircraft ever made. | His company Virgin Galactic is working with US start-up Boom to develop the XB-1, which is being plugged as the world's fastest civil aircraft ever made. |
| Boeing and Lockheed Martin are also developing supersonic passenger jets, but Sir Richard is is hoping to beat them to the punch. | Boeing and Lockheed Martin are also developing supersonic passenger jets, but Sir Richard is is hoping to beat them to the punch. |
| The prototype, nicknamed "Baby Boom," will see its first test flight take place later this year though the first commercial flight of its scaled-up successor is not expected until 2023. | The prototype, nicknamed "Baby Boom," will see its first test flight take place later this year though the first commercial flight of its scaled-up successor is not expected until 2023. |
| It has a cruising speed 10% faster than the Concorde (which flew at more than twice the speed of sound) and is nearly three times faster than a regular plane. | It has a cruising speed 10% faster than the Concorde (which flew at more than twice the speed of sound) and is nearly three times faster than a regular plane. |
| Boom's airliner is designed to carry 40 passengers at a time and fly between London and New York in just three hours and 15 minutes. | Boom's airliner is designed to carry 40 passengers at a time and fly between London and New York in just three hours and 15 minutes. |
| The price for a flight? A mere £2,500 each way. | The price for a flight? A mere £2,500 each way. |
| Continuing profits | Continuing profits |
| Oil prices are creeping back upward but airlines are set to remain profitable in 2017. | Oil prices are creeping back upward but airlines are set to remain profitable in 2017. |
| The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts the global airline industry will make $29.8bn (£24bn) in 2017, its third straight year of profit. Last year the sector logged a record $35.6bn. | The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts the global airline industry will make $29.8bn (£24bn) in 2017, its third straight year of profit. Last year the sector logged a record $35.6bn. |
| "These three years are the best performance in the industry's history, irrespective of the many uncertainties we face," says IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac. | "These three years are the best performance in the industry's history, irrespective of the many uncertainties we face," says IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac. |
| "After many years of hard work in restructuring and re-engineering the business the industry is also more resilient". | "After many years of hard work in restructuring and re-engineering the business the industry is also more resilient". |
| But the profits won't be evenly spread; the strongest performance is expected to be come from North America, which has seen a wave of airline consolidation in recent years. | But the profits won't be evenly spread; the strongest performance is expected to be come from North America, which has seen a wave of airline consolidation in recent years. |
| Ultra long air routes | Ultra long air routes |
| Forget about comparing plane sizes, this year will be focused on route lengths and who can claim the title of world's longest flight operator. | Forget about comparing plane sizes, this year will be focused on route lengths and who can claim the title of world's longest flight operator. |
| Emirates currently holds the crown with the 14,200km (8,820 miles) journey between Dubai and Auckland. That flight takes 16 hours and 5 minutes eastbound and 17h 25m westbound. | Emirates currently holds the crown with the 14,200km (8,820 miles) journey between Dubai and Auckland. That flight takes 16 hours and 5 minutes eastbound and 17h 25m westbound. |
| Its rival Qatar Airways will overtake that in February, when it also launches a non-stop flight from Doha to New Zealand's largest city, covering 14,542km, with a flight time of between 17 and a half hours and 18 and a half hours. | Its rival Qatar Airways will overtake that in February, when it also launches a non-stop flight from Doha to New Zealand's largest city, covering 14,542km, with a flight time of between 17 and a half hours and 18 and a half hours. |
| In terms of kilometres, the longest route is Air India's Delhi to San Francisco (15,300km) - which now flies over the Pacific Ocean instead of the Atlantic - but because of favourable tailwinds takes only 14 and a half hours. | In terms of kilometres, the longest route is Air India's Delhi to San Francisco (15,300km) - which now flies over the Pacific Ocean instead of the Atlantic - but because of favourable tailwinds takes only 14 and a half hours. |
| No-frills thrills | No-frills thrills |
| Air France plans to launch a new budget carrier in late 2017 serving cities in Asia, followed by routes to the US. It already operates the Hop and Transavia budget brands in Asia. | Air France plans to launch a new budget carrier in late 2017 serving cities in Asia, followed by routes to the US. It already operates the Hop and Transavia budget brands in Asia. |
| Within Europe, Ryanair and Easyjet dominate much of the market, leading many companies to look at the transatlantic route for more profits. | Within Europe, Ryanair and Easyjet dominate much of the market, leading many companies to look at the transatlantic route for more profits. |
| Iceland's Wow Air will also be expanding its budget routes to the United States in June 2017. It plans to add four weekly flights via Reykjavik. | Iceland's Wow Air will also be expanding its budget routes to the United States in June 2017. It plans to add four weekly flights via Reykjavik. |
| More space... but at a cost | More space... but at a cost |
| There used to be first class, business class and economy, but for those of us constantly relegated to cattle class there is now an extra twist - premium economy. | There used to be first class, business class and economy, but for those of us constantly relegated to cattle class there is now an extra twist - premium economy. |
| You're still towards the back of the plane, but you get extra legroom, service and amenities. | You're still towards the back of the plane, but you get extra legroom, service and amenities. |
| Later this year, for example, on long-haul international flights on its new Airbus A350s, Delta Air Lines launches what it calls its "Delta Premium Select" option. | Later this year, for example, on long-haul international flights on its new Airbus A350s, Delta Air Lines launches what it calls its "Delta Premium Select" option. |
| You get "up to 38in of pitch, up to 19in of width and up to 7in of recline", a branded blanket with pillow and an amenity kit, it promises. | You get "up to 38in of pitch, up to 19in of width and up to 7in of recline", a branded blanket with pillow and an amenity kit, it promises. |
| The catch? The more expensive tickets are around three times the price of the standard economy fare. | The catch? The more expensive tickets are around three times the price of the standard economy fare. |
| Cabin crew chic | Cabin crew chic |
| In the post-war air travel boom, the centre aisle was marketed as a runway for glamorous stewardesses. | In the post-war air travel boom, the centre aisle was marketed as a runway for glamorous stewardesses. |
| Some carriers are now looking to recapture some of that chic with newly-revamped wardrobes. | Some carriers are now looking to recapture some of that chic with newly-revamped wardrobes. |
| Hawaiian Airlines is changing its employees' outfits for the first time since 2008, while Delta has worked with New York designer Zac Posen to update its uniforms. | Hawaiian Airlines is changing its employees' outfits for the first time since 2008, while Delta has worked with New York designer Zac Posen to update its uniforms. |
| Delta says its 60,000 employees will now be draped in a "wholly re-imagined" mix of colours dubbed "Passport Plum, Cruising Cardinal and Groundspeed Graphite". | |
| Which sounds more glamorous than just calling them purple, red or grey. | Which sounds more glamorous than just calling them purple, red or grey. |
| Follow Leisha on Twitter:@BBCLeishaChi | Follow Leisha on Twitter:@BBCLeishaChi |