Budget business class seats could lure Europe-Asia fliers

Low-cost airlines, the pioneers of brief discomfort at bargain prices, have struggled to master long-haul flights. Now one of the world’s most successful budget carriers is considering cut-price business class seats as a way into the Europe-Asia market. IndiGo, which currently flies as far as Istanbul, is mapping out an ambitious long-distance network. The airline aims to start 1-stop trips further into Europe within 6 months, CE Ronojoy Dutta said. IndiGo has captured almost half the Indian market in just over a decade by offering cheap, punctual flights -- and charging extra for almost anything else. Dutta’s long-haul plans are forcing a product overhaul to help passengers endure longer flights and he’s considering everything from extra snacks to a brand-new business class. <br/>