This new airline has no economy seats or overhead luggage bins

‘All-business class flights’ are not a new concept – they’ve been trialled everywhere from the rich trans-Atlantic corridor between New York and London to the popular Sydney-Melbourne route.

Less than a handful survived, such as French airline La Compagnie, which connects New York to Paris and Nice.

Even British Airways eventually dropped the axe on its business class-only BA1/BA2 service between London City and New York, which featured a nimble Airbus A318 jet with 32 lie-flat bed beds, while Singapore Airlines mixes business class and premium economy on its non-stop Singapore-New York flights.

But startup BermudAir is betting it can buck the trend on its direct flights from key US east coast destinations to Bermuda, located some 1000km east of North America.

BermudAir's all-business class Embraer 175.

With almost year-around sunshine, pink sandy beaches and turquoise ocean waters, the British territory isn’t just a playground for the well-heeled.

It’s also a global business hub and offshore financial centre (lacking any corporate income tax, it’s become a popular tax avoidance location); banking insurance and other financial services represent 85% of the country’s GDP.

These premium markets power BermudAir’s belief in its direct all-business class flights on a pair of Embraer 175 jets with only 30 ‘Aisle Class’ seats.

“With Aisle Class, passengers no longer have to compromise between aisle access and window views,” the airline espouses.

Inside BermudAir's all-business class Embraer 175.

“The innovative seating arrangement allows travellers to enjoy the best of both worlds, providing easy access to the aisle while still having the opportunity to enjoy scenic views from their window seat.”

The sense of space in the little jet’s cabin is enhanced by the  lack of overhead bins, but BermudAir says the unique design of its bespoke seats allows “plenty of room to store one carry-on and one personal item.”

The cabin bag is accommodated in a recess under the seat in front (we’re sure provisions have been made for passengers in row 1), although it will be a tight fit for anything but the most compact piece of carry-on, with BermudAir citing domensions of 16” wide x 24” high x 10” deep (40cm x 60cm x 25cm).

“These converted suites provide every passenger with far greater levels of privacy and comfort, enhanced side furniture and additional stowage,” explains Peter Tennent, whose London firm Factorydesign created the seat for BermudAir.

Inside BermudAir's all-business class Embraer 175.

“The suites are complemented by a sophisticated, premium cabin environment with delightful touches, such as the lighting which bathes the cabin in blue light on the way to USA, and pink light on the way to Bermuda.”

Pink light? “If you’ve ever caught a bus in Bermuda, you will know why,” Tennent adds.

BermudAir will dash from New York, Boston and Florida’s Fort Lauderdale to Bermuda in 2-3 hours, with fares starting from US$199, including free WiFi messaging and one piece of checked luggage.

BermudAir's all-business class Embraer 175.

The ‘New York’ flights will originate at upstate Westchester County airport rather than a major airport such as JFK.

Westchester represents BermudAir’s “core demographic”, says BermudAir founder and CEO Adam Scott; while 85% of all visitors to Bermuda come from the US, a solid 35% are from New York.

Scott sees BermudAir as a boutique airline aimed not as discretionary leisure travellers “but a robust business, high-end leisure and returning-resident market.”