British Airways has a business class airfare sale until 27 Jan 09. Return prices in Club World on selected routes ex-London are New York £1,099, Mumbai £1,359, Dubai £1,459, Tokyo £1,999 (all 05 Feb 09 to 31 Mar 09), Barbados £1,319 (01 Mar 09 to 20 Mar 09), Jo’burg £1,999 (06 Feb 09 to 31 Mar 09), Sydney £2729 (15 Jul 09 to 31 Aug 09). Many other destinations are available. One-way upgrades to First start at £499.

Note, if you are registered with ba.com (it’s free), log in and get an additional £20 off per person on all long-haul economy and business sale fares.

Virgin Atlantic is matching its Upper Class fares with BA on routes they share.

Qatar Airways has a business class airfare sale until 31 Jan 09 for travel up to June. Fares from London include Dubai £1,179, Colombo £1,325, Jo’burg £1,609, Hong Kong £1,739 and Singapore £1,899.

Emirates has an interesting companion fare offer in business or first class which can be booked by 15 Feb 09, travel to the end of October. Use the promo code UKCOMP9. Fares per person are Dubai £1199, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Shanghai all available for just under £1,400, Mauritius £1,389, Seychelles £1,474, Colombo and Male for £1,682. The stand-out fare looks like Cape Town or Jo’burg for £1,299, with first class for £2,271.

KLM has some good biz class fares ex-London for travel 9 Jan 09 to 30 Apr 09. Delhi £940, Dubai 1,085, Nairobi £1,371, Jo’burg £1,418 and Seoul £1,568. Similar fares available from regional UK.

With oil prices having come down but with the credit crunch still stifling premium demand now is a very good time to pick up a business class airfare deal for 2009.