The United Kingdom’s flag carrier has unveiled a game-changing first class seat created in partnership with world-class designers and manufacturers.
British Airways, the only European carrier to offer first class cabins between London and the United States, recently announced plans to retrofit its A380 planes, ensuring travelers cross the pond in the best premium cabins.
The new seats, expected to be in service by mid-2026, reflect a luxury hotel experience reflective of modern British jet setters' adventures. Once extended into lie-down beds, the seats measure 36.5 inches wide and 79 inches long. Allotted personal luggage space ensures no pre-disembark aisle scraps, while 32-inch 4K personal screens mean travelers can enjoy all the latest entertainment, from the latest movies to the hottest podcasts, at high altitudes.
Other amenities include a multi-purpose ottoman table ideal for storing devices, mood lighting spanning categories including "relax" and “cinema,” and window blinds activated by buttons on the internal control panel for all three windows per seat.
While settling into the plush new seats, British Airways customers can enjoy all the existing benefits of first class, including free Wi-Fi, access to sleek airport lounges worldwide, including London Heathrow’s Concorde Lounge, and a fine dining experience with Champagne and wine lists.
British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming, said: “We’re incredibly proud to launch the next era of First 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.”
To create the product, British Airways called on some of the UK’s most celebrated creators. London’s Tangerine Design Consultancy worked alongside the airline to develop the initial concept and Northern Ireland’s Collins Aerospace to bring it to life, from color palates to material specification.
Glasgow-based Muirhead sourced the finest Scottish leather for the new seats, having worked on the QE2 and the Orient Express seats in recent years. Every element of the product is thought out to the very last detail, with Lancashire’s Amann Group called on for their high-quality sewing and embroidery threads.
A version of this story originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller.
