British Airways has launched a new first-class system that will be available from 2026 on the world’s largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380.
This will be the first update to British Airways’ first class offering since 2020, when it rolled out the upgraded seat on several of its Boeing 777 fleet. This iteration was the first for the airline to include a private door and three-point seat belt.
British Airways’ latest first-class offering will be deployed on Airbus A380 aircraft and is expected to take to the skies in early to mid-2026.
The route on which the first class suites will debut has not been revealed, although it is worth noting that the airline’s A380 currently flies from London on US routes to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Miami International Airport (MIA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
The new premium product was unveiled on Monday evening at the company’s headquarters in Waterside to a select group of media. The airline also announced three new UK-Italy routes scheduled to start in 2025: Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Rimini, London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Salerno, and London City Airport (LCY) to Olbia.
Elsewhere, a British Airways spokesperson confirmed to TPG that the new British Airways app will be launched by the end of March.
Calum Laming, BA’s chief customer officer, led the announcement, saying: “We are incredibly proud to present the next era of First that pushes the boundaries of luxury, comfort and modernity, taking into account customer preferences and expectations with the finest detail.”
Here’s everything you need to know about British Airways’ new first class suite.
Details of British Airways’ new first class suite
The new, redesigned first-class system will take to the skies in early to mid-2026 and will be retrofitted to BA’s entire fleet of Airbus A380s.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for the best news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts
The new first class suites will come in a 1-2-1 configuration with three rows in each cabin, for a total of 12 seats.
The upgraded seats are ultrawide, clocking in at 36 1/2 inches according to British Airways – much wider than current first class seats – with a bed height of 79 inches when fully reclined. This will be the largest and longest seat on a British Airways flight.
Each seat will feature a multi-functional ottoman, reclining table and a generous sized 32-inch 4K bright entertainment screen.
Bluetooth connectivity will allow passengers to use their own wireless headphones or those provided by the airline.
IFE screens, lighting and seating can all be controlled using a 10-inch tablet-style controller.
Additional features include adjustable mood lighting with settings such as “relax,” “dine” and “cinema,” along with easy-to-access buttons to adjust the seat.
Every seat is wrapped around a curved wall that stands 5 feet tall.
Apart from this there is a leather wardrobe with space for carrying luggage and clothing items such as coats or suit jackets.
The airline said it is working closely with Collins Aerospace to develop the first-class suite, following its involvement in the well-known Club Suite company, which supplies the British Airways business.
It is not clear whether other British Airways wide-body aircraft with first-class suites – Boeing 777, 779, 787-9 and 787-10 – will also receive the renovation, although there was nothing from the carrier at the time of the announcement to indicate that they will be refurbished. Currently, Boeing A350s and 787-8s do not operate first class service.
Like BA’s current first class products, the new suite is expected to be booked with British Airways Avios or partner rewards such as American Airlines AAdvantage miles.
Related: 5 versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and Qatar Airways
British Airways’ current first class offer
BA currently offers first class on the following flights:
- All 16 Boeing 787-9 aircraft (eight first class seats on each aircraft and the old Club World business class cabins)
- All 10 Boeing 787-10 aircraft (eight first class seats per aircraft)
- 15 of 27 Boeing 777-200ER aircraft (13 with eight first-class seats per aircraft, also equipped with Club Suites, and two with 14 first-class seats per aircraft and the old Club World cabins)
- All 15 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft (eight first class seats per aircraft, also equipped with Club Suites)
- All 10 Airbus A380 flights (14 first class seats on each flight and classic Club World cabins)
Note that with ongoing maintenance and repair needs affecting fleet use, this aircraft price may not always be in effect, and the total number of aircraft with first class cabins in service can and does change.
All existing first class suits have the same design: a 1-2-1 reverse-herringbone layout. As expected, they all have direct access to the hallway and a lie-flat bed.
There are subtle differences between first class seats on different types of aircraft. The oldest seats, designed in 2010 and found on most A380s and Boeing 777s, have a beige and blue color scheme and old inflight entertainment screens. These seats do not have closing doors.
Related: Still better than business class: British Airways First review on 777 from London to Washington
The seat design since 2015, installed on Boeing 787-9 and -10 aircraft, is modern black and has a large entertainment screen behind the seat. These seats do not have closing doors.
The new first class seats that are currently flying are only installed on a handful of Boeing 777 aircraft and continue the black color scheme by introducing a sliding door, turning the seat into a suite that is more in line with the carrier’s other first class products.
Related: Amazing first class seats you can book with points and miles
Bottom line
British Airway’s next generation first class is more of an evolution than a revolution. Like the current seats, the 1-2-1 configuration offers more space and privacy, thanks to the suite’s high walls and closing doors. It’s absolutely amazing and without a doubt the best BA seat we’ve ever flown.
It will certainly be one AvGeeks will go out of their way to fly. However, other leading airlines such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines have raised the bar with their first class suites with impressive technology (such as Emirates’ digital windows for middle seats) and jaw-dropping 1-1 configurations (as seen in Singapore class first).
The release timeline may be a little disappointing for some, given the 12-month wait between announcement and implementation. But once it arrives, the upgrade will likely be welcomed by those with the means — or miles — to book a first-class suite.
Related reading:
Source link
