Cathay Pacific unveils new ‘Aria Suite’ business class

Cathay Pacific took a look at its new business class seat today, showing off its new “Aria Suite” at a hangar preview event at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

The airline first revealed plans for the new Aria Suite in March 2024, although the airline has been tight-lipped about it until now, saying only that the new suites will appear later this year on Cathay’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. However, it looks like the first plane with the new cabins is set to take off later this week – and TPG got a sneak peek at the airline’s event.

Here’s what we saw at the Cathay Pacific event and what you need to know about the airline’s new business class seat.

What is the Cathay Pacific Aria Suite?

Cathay Pacific has been flying a fixed version of its current business class (with some updates as new planes like the Airbus A350 have come into service) for over a decade now, so the launch of the Aria Suite represents a big step forward for the airline.

That said, it’s a significant evolution rather than a complete departure for the airline. Like Cathay’s current business class, Aria Suites are laid out in a reverse herringbone-style 1-2-1 configuration, so each seat has direct aisle access.

Those on the sides of the cabin face the window and are ideal for solo travellers, while those in the middle face the other, so would be better for passengers traveling with companions.

Each Aria Suite still has plenty of privacy, however, thanks to the high seat shells, adjustable dividers between the center seats and closing doors that protect them from the corridor. Doors are a popular feature of next-generation business class seats, although this is the first time Cathay Pacific has offered them.

Unlike other airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and Starlux that have turned certain seats in the first rows of their latest business class cabins into premium, roomy products, Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suites will be the same everywhere.

Aria Suites are decorated in a neutral color palette of taupe, cream, sand and brown tones rather than the airline’s signature green, creating a calm environment on board.

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They feature a variety of surface and storage areas, including a wide, wooden lounge and marbleized armrest on one side of the seat with a top panel that slides open to reveal a shallow cubby designed to store essentials. Another simple cubby (with an inner lining that gives off that signature green glow) is also tucked into the seatback shell under the stylish seat-mounted reading lamp.

Among the technological advancements that Aria Suites will offer are new 24-inch 4K high-definition entertainment screens that are among the largest offered in business class on any airline. They have Bluetooth audio connectivity, so passengers can use their headphones. The airline promises that passengers will soon be able to coordinate their entertainment options with their passengers thanks to the new system’s functionality.

The most interesting new feature is the “work modes” of the chair. Passengers can choose from “movie,” “work,” “relax,” “dining” and “sleep” modes, and at the push of a button, a suite of seat positions and lighting to suit that activity. Additionally, a guide on the inflight entertainment screen will let passengers know which restrooms are occupied and which can be used free of charge.

The seats also feature universal power plugs and personal USB-A and USB-C charging ports, as well as wireless charging pads so you don’t have to worry about severing the Gordian knot of cables when you get on or off. Passengers can use free Wi-Fi, too.

The double seat tray table slides out from under the entertainment system and has a device holder for tablets integrated into its design.

The tray table also has a unique feature that allows it to be easily positioned at any height in its width by pulling or pushing it into place.

As you might expect, each seat reclines into a flat bed, and passengers can expect the same services currently available in Cathay Pacific business class, including premium bedding, Bamford amenities and menus created in collaboration with the renowned Hong Kong. restaurants.

Don’t forget to cast your eye to the front of the cabin, where each plane decorated Aria Suites will display a unique piece of art inspired by Hong Kong’s cityscapes and surrounding nature. The piece will be created by artists connected to the destination as part of the airline’s self-described “gallery in the sky.”

Which airlines will have Cathay Pacific Aria Suites?

Cathay Pacific will install Aria Suites on its fleet of 30 Boeing 777-300ERs at a rate of approximately one aircraft per month, meaning all retrofits should be completed by the end of 2027.

The airline is removing the first phase of these jets, although it has revealed plans to install a new first-class product in its future fleet of Boeing 777-9s, the airline has ordered 21 and expects to start delivering them at some point. in 2026 (pending any delays from the jet manufacturer). Boeing 777-9s will also have Aria Suite business class cabins on board.

Want to know if a certain flight has the new Aria Suites? Your first clue will be whether or not the Boeing 777 has a first class cabin. If it does, it hasn’t been reinstalled.

If your flight is a three-cabin (business, premium economy and economy) Cathay Pacific Boeing 777, the next thing you should look at is the seat count. The airline’s current three-class Boeing 777 has 368 seats: 40 in business class, 32 in premium economy and 296 in economy.

The Boeing 777-300ER with the new Aria Suite will have 45 business class seats, 48 ​​premium seats and 268 economy seats. So, airlines gain five seats in business class and 16 seats in premium economy (which will be an updated product previewed for us in April) but lose 28 economy seats. The economy seats are also an updated version of the existing product.

The business class cabin on the reconfigured planes will be divided into two categories. The first, at the front of the plane, will have six rows of four seats each, and one side-by-side seat in the last row. The smaller section, which will be located behind the galley and toilet area, will have five rows of four seats each. The entire business class cabin will have a total of three toilets: two in the front near the cockpit and one between the two business class sections.

If in doubt, check your flight’s seat map against the seat configuration displayed on the Cathay Pacific website. Boeing 777-300ERs with Aria Suites inside will be displayed in 77J.

Which routes will include Cathay Pacific Aria Suites?

We don’t yet know exactly which routes will have Aria Suites in the long term, but it is expected that once the airline takes delivery of the three retrofitted jets in January, it will begin flying long-haul routes.

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific’s first airline will operate daily flights between HKG and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) from Oct. 18-31. Specifically, the jet will fly the following frequencies:

• Cathay Pacific flight CX 332: will depart from Hong Kong at noon and arrive in Beijing at 3:30 pm local time.
• Cathay Pacific flight CX 331: will depart Beijing at 4:50 pm and arrive in Hong Kong at 8:35 pm local time.

These flights are subject to change, however, so always double-check your seat configuration before take-off in case there is a last-minute change of equipment.

At press time, business class seats appeared to be sold both ways on most days, but that could be for a number of reasons. If you intend to be in the region and can take one of these flights (remember to check visa requirements!), you may have better luck booking closer.

How to book Cathay Pacific Aria Suites

Due to the limited number of aircraft likely to have Aria Suites in the near future and the jet’s release time of one per month, it’s unlikely we’ll see Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ERs with the new cabins flying to the US anytime soon. That may not matter much, however, as Cathay Pacific business class awards have been nearly impossible to book using American Airlines AAdvantage or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles in recent years.

Hopefully, that will change, and if it does, at current rates, you’ll need 110,000 American miles or 75,000 to 85,000 Alaska miles from the airline’s US destinations, including Boston Logan International Airport (BOS ), Chicago’s O’Hare. International Airport (ORD), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) from April 2025, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

In the meantime, your best bet for booking award flights on a carrier may be to redeem miles from Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program. Asia Miles is a transfer partner for American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards. Tickets between Hong Kong and various US airline gateways will range from 84,000 to 110,000 Asia Miles one way in business class.