Opinion

Chris Moss

October 26, 2026 — 5:00am

Is it time to rename business class? If you use that section of the plane, or keep a beady eye on who turns left as you head right, you might have noticed that the user of the privileged cabin is changing. Sure, there are a few men and women in suits, refusing drinks while they sleep to prepare for a meeting or crack on with emails and spreadsheets. But they are very likely to be joined today by holidaymakers in comfy garments, families with kids and 20-somethings wielding cutting-edge tech.

At the end of last year, The Business Travel Magazine reported that Qantas regional general manager for the UK, Europe and Africa, Darsh Chapman, claimed that on flights from London, around 70 per cent of customers in business cabins were leisure travellers.

Non-business passengers are making use of a medley of means to access business class. iStock

It’s a huge turnaround, as businesspeople once occupied as much as 90 per cent of the spacious seats.…