British Airways launches stunning new first class suites
British Airways has unveiled a brand new set of first class seats that will be available starting in 2026 on the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380.
This will be the first update to British Airways’ first class service since 2020, when the airline rolled out upgraded seats on some planes in its Boeing 777 fleet. This iteration is the airline’s first with privacy doors and three-point seatbelts.
British Airways’ latest first class offer will be rolled out on its Airbus A380 aircraft and is expected to take to the skies in early to mid-2026.
The route on which the new first-class suites will launch has not yet been revealed, although it is worth noting that the airline’s A380 currently flies from London on US routes to O’Hare International Airport ( ORD) of Chicago, Miami International Airport (MIA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
The new first-in-class product was revealed on Monday night at the company’s Waterside headquarters in front of a select group of media outlets. 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 a new British Airways app will be launched at the end of March.
Calum Laming, BA’s chief customer officer, led the announcement and said: “We’re incredibly proud to launch the next era of First, pushing the boundaries of comfort, luxury and modernity, featuring taking into account customer preferences and expectations to the smallest detail.”
Here’s everything you need to know about British Airways’ new first class suites.
Details of British Airways’ new first class suite
The all-new, redesigned first class suite will take to the skies in early to mid-2026 and will be retrofitted on BA’s Airbus A380 fleet.
Daily newsletter
Gift your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers to get breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive offers from TPG experts
The new first class suites will have a 1-2-1 configuration with three rows per cabin, for a total of 12 seats.
The upgraded seats are super-wide, according to British Airways, measuring 36 1/2 inches – significantly wider than current first class seats – with a bed length of 79 inches when fully reclined. This will be the widest and longest seat on a British Airways flight.
Each seat will feature a multi-purpose ottoman, a foldable table and a commendably sized 32-inch 4K in-flight entertainment screen.
Bluetooth connectivity will allow passengers to use their own wireless headphones or those provided by the airline.
IFE screens, lighting and seating positions can all be controlled using a 10-inch tablet-style controller.
Additional features include adjustable mood lighting with settings like “relax,” “dinner,” and “cinema,” along with easy-access buttons for seat adjustment.
The entire seating is encased in a curved wall up to 5 feet high.
Outside is a leather-lined wardrobe with space for carry-on luggage and clothing items such as coats or vests.
The airline said it has worked closely with Collins Aerospace on the development of first class, following its involvement in the popular Club Suite, British Airways’ business class offering.
It’s unclear whether British Airways’ other wide-body jets with first-class suites – the Boeing 777, 779, 787-9 and 787-10 – will also receive a facelift, although there are none from the company in the announcement suggests that they will be improved. been remodeled. Currently, the airline’s Boeing A350 and 787-8 fleet does not operate first class service.
Like BA’s current first-class products, the new set is expected to be available to pre-order with Avios is a British airline or partner currencies like American Airlines AAdvantage miles.
Related: 5 Avios versions: 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 aircraft:
- All 16 Boeing 787-9 aircraft (eight first class seats on each aircraft and older Club World business class cabins)
- All 10 Boeing 787-10 aircraft (eight first class seats on each aircraft)
- 15 of 27 Boeing 777-200ER aircraft (13 with 8 first class seats per aircraft, also equipped with Club Suites, and 2 with 14 first class seats per aircraft and older Club World cabins)
- All 15 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft (eight first class seats on each aircraft, also equipped with Club Suites)
- All 10 Airbus A380 aircraft (14 first class seats per aircraft and older Club World cabins)
Note that due to regular maintenance and refurbishment requirements affecting fleet utilization, this number of aircraft may not always be in service and the total number of first class aircraft is used can and will vary.
All available first-class suites have a similar design: a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone layout. As expected, all have direct aisle access and a bed.
There are slight differences between first class seats on different types of aircraft. The oldest seats, designed in 2010 and found on A380s and most Boeing 777s, feature beige and navy tones and older in-flight entertainment screens. These seats do not have doors that close.
Seat designs from 2015 installed on Boeing 787-9 and -10 aircraft are more modern in black and have larger seatback entertainment screens. These seats also do not have doors that close.
The newest first class seats currently flying are installed on only a small number of Boeing 777 aircraft and continue the black color scheme by introducing sliding doors, turning the seats into a suite more in line with Boeing’s first class offerings. other firms.
Related: Great first class seats that you can book with points and miles
Bottom line
British Airways’ next generation first class is more of an evolution than a revolution. Like the current seats, the 1-2-1 configuration offers plenty of space and privacy thanks to the suite’s high walls and closed doors. It’s certainly impressive and certainly the best seat BA has ever flown.
This will definitely be one that AvGeeks will try their best to fly. However, other leading airlines such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines have raised the bar higher with the latest first class suites with more impressive technology (such as Emirates digital window for the middle seat) and an incredible 1-1 configuration (as seen in Singapore’s first class).
The implementation process may be a bit disappointing for some, as there is a 12-month wait from announcement to launch. 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:
