Originally Posted by EWR764

5 years ago has very little relevance to the competitive landscape today. Nevertheless, in that time, Lufthansa has removed F from much (all?) of the 747-400 fleet, after reducing the cabin from 16 to 8 seats, and pulled F off A343s. Cathay has taken delivery of a large number of J/W/Y 777s and deployed them worldwide, while reducing the number of F seats by retiring 747s. Once AA 772 retrofits are complete, United will have more airplanes with F cabins in service. Thai 77W do not have F, and are largely replacing 747s and A346 which previously operated with F cabins. QF took F off its 747 fleet.

It's happening around the world.

The airlines with top-end first class products tend to have one primary longhaul hub through which all premium traffic can be consolidated. Much more difficult to do when traffic flows are very fragmented and can be distributed over major international gateways at six sites. The investment to offer that kind of a product (ground service, greater number of airframes to fit out, more empty seats, etc.) is staggering.

The business has changed. It's not a sCO thing.