A reaction to the low cost threat? Transaero introduces discount class

How many services classes on-board?

Transaero has ruled out, for now, or at least this is what I was told last time I visited, launching its own low cost carrier. What is doing, instead, is segmenting its passenger cabin even further by adding a new "discount class". 

The difference with full fare economy, does not seem to be huge, though, since Russian law requires airlines to provide a number of services for free such as checked in luggage, cancellation refunds and in-flight meals, so looks more like a way to sell a number of tickets on certain routes at discounted prices. A move to deter would-be and up-and-coming low cost entrants? Maybe...

What is sure is that Transaero is stretching cabin segementation as far as you can imagine since it will now have Imperial (also on some European routes operated by narrow-body aircraft), business, premium, economy, tourist and, now, discount class.