Sydney, Nov 26: British Airways has today unveiled its brand-new First seat, combining elegant design with expert British craftsmanship, reflective of modern British luxury travel.
The new cabin forms part of the airline’s A380 retrofit plans, expected to take to the skies in mid-2026.
The airline’s new First has been carefully designed to provide the feel of a modern luxury hotel, alongside home comforts and thoughtful British touches at 35,000 feet.
The seat has been beautifully curated by expert designers and world-class manufacturers from all corners of Great Britain and Ireland, including London, Glasgow, West Yorkshire, Kilkeel, and Dublin.
The new seat is ultra-wide (36.5 inches), with a bed length of 79 inches, and features a multi-purpose ottoman and elegant stowable table, a 32-inch 4K TV screen, and adjustable mood lighting with 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 60-inch curved wall for ultimate privacy, while still providing a spacious environment.
For customers traveling together in the center of the cabin, the divider slides open to create a shared lounge space, and the stowable tables allow customers to enjoy ‘buddy dining’ with their travel companion.
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.
The suite features an ambient light with an eye-catching design that subtly references the airline’s speedmarque and further nods to Concorde.
Window blinds are activated by buttons on the internal control panel for all three windows per seat.
The soft paneling inside the seat helps with acoustics and absorbing sound, adding 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 maximize their rest on board.
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.”
The airline listened to colleagues and customers to help shape design elements and specific features to suit preferences, such as the carefully placed stowage with usability and purpose in mind.
The airline also introduced its fully rectangular bed following customer feedback that replicates all the comforts of a home environment.
British Airways worked closely with world-class manufacturer Collins Aerospace RTX business to create the First seat, following its involvement in carefully crafting the airline’s Club Suite and short-haul aircraft seats earlier this year.
British Airways is proud to be the only European carrier from the UK to offer a First product across the Atlantic.
Customers traveling in First can experience the airline’s most luxurious way to travel, from a stylish seat and exclusive access to lounges to fast-track security, use of the First Wing at Heathrow, and excellent service on board.
The airline offers the most premium experience for travelers from the moment they book to when they land at their destination.
The airline is continuing to invest in its overall customer experience and has already rolled out over 120 initiatives as part of its £7 billion transformation focus, from brand-new short-haul seats and free Wi-Fi messaging on board to refreshing its lounges across its global network.
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