Header: Courtesy of British Airways
British Airways has just announced its new first seat as part of its A380 retrofit program, which is set to start operations in mid-2026. The new seat is the result of a collaboration between several manufacturers and designers across the UK and Ireland, with key contributions from locations including London, Glasgow, West Yorkshire, Kilkeel, and Dublin. Collins Aerospace partnered with British Airways on the development of the First seat, following its earlier work on the airline’s Club Suite and short-haul seating.
The redesigned seat offers a width of 36.5 inches and a bed length of 79 inches. It features such as a multi-purpose ottoman, a stowable table, a 32-inch 4K television, and adjustable lighting with predefined modes for relaxation, dining, and entertainment. Each seat is enclosed within a 60-inch curved wall, giving passengers privacy and a spacious interior. When traveling together and sitting in the center seats, one can use the sliding divider to create a shared space for dining or conversation.
Practical additions include designated storage for personal luggage, accessible within the suite, and an ambient light fixture with a design referencing British Airways’ speed marque. Window blinds, controlled via a panel within the suite, cover all three windows at each seat, while sound-absorbing materials enhance privacy. A new “do not disturb” feature, managed through a wireless tablet, allows passengers to notify crew when they prefer uninterrupted rest.
The design draws inspiration from the famous Concorde, with curved lines incorporated throughout the cabin. The suite’s fully rectangular bed design, developed following customer feedback, aims to replicate the comforts of a home environment. Furthermore, input from passengers and crew informed the placement and functionality of the storage compartments, ensuring efficient usability.
British Airways continues to be the only UK-based European airline offering a First class product on transatlantic routes. A ticket includes priority boarding, access to dedicated lounges like the Concorde Room, and streamlined check-in via the First Wing at Heathrow.
The launch of the new First Seat coincides with British Airways’ £7 billion investment in enhancing its customer experience, which includes updates to short-haul seats, expanded Wi-Fi services, and the refurbishment of lounges across its network. These developments align with the airline’s broader transformation strategy, which has introduced over 120 initiatives to date.
