The airline says its new First Class has been carefully designed to provide the feel of a modern luxury hotel
British Airways has unveiled its brand-new First Class cabin seat, combining elegant design with expert British craftsmanship, reflective of modern British luxury travel. In a press statement, the flag carrier of the United Kingdom says that the new cabin forms part of the airline’s A380 retrofit plans, expected to take to the skies in mid-2026.
The airline says its new First Class has been carefully designed to provide the feel of a modern luxury hotel, alongside home comforts and thoughtful British touches at 11,000 m. The seat has been curated by expert designers and world-class manufacturers from all corners of Great Britain and Ireland, including London, Glasgow, West Yorkshire, Kilkeel and Dublin, says the carrier.
The new seat is ultra-wide (36.5 inches or 93 cm), with a bed length of 79 inches (2 m)
The new seat is ultra-wide (36.5 inches or 93 cm), with a bed length of 79 inches (2 m), and features a multi-purpose ottoman and elegant storable table, a 32-inch (32 cm) 4K TV screen, adjustable mood lighting including scenes such as ‘relax’, ‘dine’ and ‘cinema’. The seat can be adjusted with the touch of a button to find the perfect level of comfort and is located within a cocooned 152 cm curved wall for ultimate privacy, whilst still providing a spacious environment.
The statement adds that for customers travelling together in the centre of the cabin, the divider slides open to create a shared lounge space, and the storable tables mean customers can enjoy ‘buddy dining’ in the seat with their travel companion.
The airline says that the elegant curves throughout the cabin take inspiration from British Airways’ Concorde wings, giving a natural flow to the space and creating a welcoming environment. Customers can now simply wheel their luggage into their personal luggage space, making it even easier to settle in before their flight.
Elsewhere, the suite features an ambient light with an eye-catching design that subtly references the airline’s speed marque and further nods to Concorde. The suite features window blinds, activated by buttons on the internal control panel for all three windows per seat. The soft panelling inside the seat also helps with acoustics and absorbing sound, which adds to the sense of being in a cocooned, private space.
Customers can also use the seat’s brand-new ‘do not disturb’ functionality on its wireless control tablet, which notifies crew if they wish to maximise their rest on board, it adds.
Calum Laming
“We are incredibly proud to launch the next era of First Class Seat that pushes the boundaries of comfort, luxury and modernity, taking into consideration customer preferences and expectations to the finest detail. This coupled with our incredible colleagues delivering a world-class service, following the launch of our First Service Specialists scheme, as well as the many benefits of flying First such as First Wing entry, access to our award-winning lounges including our Concorde Room and priority boarding, means we truly believe we offer a winning combination in delivering an extraordinary experience for our customers,” says Calum Laming, Chief Customer Officer, British Airways.
The airline says it worked closely with world-class manufacturer, Collins Aerospace RTX business, to create the First Class seat, following its involvement in carefully crafting British Airways’ Club Suite and short-haul aircraft seats earlier this year.
British Airways says it is the only European carrier from the United Kingdom to offer a First Class product across the Atlantic. Customers travelling in First can experience the airline’s most luxurious way to travel, from a stylish seat, exclusive access to lounges, fast-track security, use of the First Wing at Heathrow and excellent service on board. The airline offers the most premium experience for travellers from the moment they book to when they land in their destination.
The airline says it is continuing to invest in its overall customer experience and has already rolled out over 120 initiatives as part of its GBP 7 billion (USD 8.8 billion) transformation focus, from brand-new short-haul seats, free Wi-Fi messaging on board to refreshing its lounges across its global network.
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