Is first-class profitable for airlines?

Revnue 1st class is profitable for airlines!

Sometimes airlines like Emirates and SQ just want to have an awesome first class product to show off how great flying with them can be. It is meant to be a flagship product that may or may not be profitable by itself.

However, the trickle down effect of people associating these airlines as more luxurious (even though Emirates has a ridiculous 2-3-2 config in business class) and are more willing to pay more to fly with these airlines. In the grand scheme of things, first class is still likely to be profitable. Airlines would scrap it otherwise (as MH and KE have done).

Yes first class is very profitable per seat.

Unfortunately most airline body lose money if they allocate too much first class and couldn't get it filled. So thats a big problem because every empty seat is a big revenue wasted.

Airbus A380 is one of this plane that can have many first class seat empty as it flys... giving airline a big headache.

One of the reasons why A380 didn't sell well....​​​

Great question.

This is a good answer for me :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzB5xtGGsTc