British Airways is building what it calls the “world’s largest” business-class cabin and removing dozens of coach-class seats, the most blatant example of how the airline is betting its future on high-spending travelers.
The changes are part of a major overhaul of British Airways’ fleet and ground services, including lounges at its London Heathrow hub.
Here are the changes:
British Airways will equip its Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, with a huge business class cabin with 106 seats, up from the current 97 business class seats. First class will also be revamped to include 12 suites, up from the current 14 seats on the A380. Premium economy class will increase from 55 seats to 84 seats. Standard economy class will be reduced from 303 seats to just 215 seats.
According to British Airways, 106 business class suites with sliding doors will occupy the entire upper deck of the A380.
Airlines have spent years and hundreds of millions of dollars expanding their pricier seats, capitalizing on demand for wider options and travelers’ desire for more luxurious travel.
British Airways joint venture partner american airlineswhich debuted its largest 70-seat business class last month. boeing aircraft. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson told CNBC in a recent interview that customers were looking for luxury options on long-haul flights, such as non-stop Perth-London flights.
“There are definitely customers who want this and are willing to pay a premium for it,” she said.
More expensive seats come with a premium. Even if you want more legroom on a transatlantic trip, it will cost you more than $200 per leg, and more than $1,000 more for premium economy seats after purchase.
Prices can be higher if selected at time of booking. Top-of-the-line seats typically cost $5,000 and can cost well over $10,000 on long-haul flights.
Some of the new seats are so sophisticated that deliveries of new aircraft have even been delayed as airlines wait for parts and federal certification.
British Airways’ cabin renovation of 12 A380s is also a bet on jumbo jets, which many airlines have abandoned in recent years in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient jets. Airbus handed over its last A380 to Emirates, the plane’s largest user, at the end of 2021.
