Taking luxury to new heights: British Airways unveils its brand-new First class (Image: British Airways)
Inspired by the pioneered British engineering used on the Concorde, (BA) has launched a new first-class seat.
The flagship airline has long been known for its and is now leading the way in a new era of luxury .
British Airways, the only European carrier to offer first-class travel from London to the US, teamed up with expert designers and world-class manufacturers to produce a modern luxury seat that transforms flights into a “hotel experience”.
It’s yet to be rolled out across the BA fleet as the new cabin forms part of the airline’s A380 retrofit plans, expected to take to the skies in mid-2026.
British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, Calum Laming, said: “We’re incredibly proud to launch the next era of First, which pushes the boundaries of comfort, luxury, and modernity, taking into consideration customer preferences and expectations to the finest detail.”
The new cabin forms part of the airline’s A380 retrofit plans, expected to take to the skies in mid-2026 (Image: British Airways)
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 35,000ft (Image: British Airways)
British Airways’ Concorde wings are the main source of inspiration for the sleek curves throughout the cabins, which give the space a natural flow and create a welcoming environment.
There’s no wrestling with overhead cabins as passengers can now wheel their luggage into their personal luggage space, making settling in easier 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.
Gone are the days of manual window shutters. The internal control panel for all three windows per seat now includes button-activated blinds. And those looking to maximise shut-eye can use the seat’s brand-new ‘do not disturb’ functionality on its wireless control tablet, which notifies the crew to leave them be.
The soft panelling inside the seat also helps with acoustics and absorbs sound, adding to the sense of being in a cocooned, private space.
he 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 (Image: British Airways)
Customers can now simply wheel their luggage into their personal luggage space, making it even easier to settle in before their flight (Image: British Airways)
The new first-class cabins’ fine details include ultra-wide seats measuring 36.5 inches. The seats include a 79-inch bed, a multi-purpose ottoman, and an “elegant” stowable table.
In-flight entertainment is top-of-the-range, with a personal 32-inch 4K TV screen and adjustable mood lighting with settings to suit any mood: “relax,” “dine,” and “cinema.”
British Airways’ new first-class cabin seats are adjustable with the touch of a button, and the sofa is located within a cocooned 60-inch curved wall for ultimate privacy while still providing a spacious environment.
For those travelling in groups, central cabins have dividers that slide open to create a shared lounge space, and the stowable tables mean customers can enjoy ‘buddy dining’ in the seat with their travel companion.
Ambient lighting and sizeable person TV screens are included in the design (Image: British Airways)
An electronic control panel navigates the window blinds, seats and do not disturb feature (Image: British Airways)
BA’s Chief Customer Officer noted that customers can expect to be wowed by more than just innovative design on their travels.
He said: “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.”
And it’s not just first-class that’s getting a makeover. The British airline says it continues to invest in its overall customer experience and has already rolled out over 120 initiatives as part of its £7billion transformation focus, from brand-new short-haul seats and free Wi-Fi messaging on board to refreshing its lounges across its global network.