Cathay Pacific is preparing to introduce a completely redesigned business class, aiming to revolutionize regional travel across Asia.
The current regional business class on the Airbus A330, featuring side-by-side reclining seats, will be replaced with modern lie-flat beds similar to those offered on Cathay’s long-haul A350 and Boeing 777 fleets.
Scheduled to debut in 2026, the new A330 business class will follow the recent launch of the airline’s 777 Aria Suites business class earlier this year.
Although the exact design of the new seat is still undisclosed, it is expected to incorporate visual elements inspired by the Aria Suites, maintaining a consistent brand look across Cathay Pacific’s fleet.
Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam announced at a joint Airbus-Cathay Pacific media event in Hong Kong in November 2024 that starting in 2026, the airline will begin retrofitting its A330 aircraft with a lie-flat regional business class. The update will also include a refreshed economy class product.
Cathay’s existing A330 regional business class has been in service since 2012, originally used on both Cathay Pacific and the now-defunct Cathay Dragon for short- and medium-haul routes across Asia. Some of these A330s even feature a regional first class cabin, offering Cathay’s lie-flat long-haul business class seats with direct aisle access and increased privacy, providing an upgraded experience from the standard 2-2-2 regional recliners.
Beyond the A330 refit slated to begin in 2026, Cathay plans to introduce 30 new A330neo aircraft—also known as the A330-900—between 2028 and 2031. These next-generation jets will likely feature similar business class configurations, potentially with enhancements.
The A330neo is an updated version of Airbus’ popular twin-aisle A330, boasting extended range capabilities, fuel-efficient engines, and a more modern cabin environment. Passengers can look forward to a quieter, sleeker, and more spacious cabin with higher-capacity overhead storage, LED lighting, and options such as electronically-dimmable windows that can darken to 99.9% at the push of a button.
Cathay is adopting an agnostic approach to its A330neo business class seats, prioritizing a consistent passenger experience with the current A330 business class. Future seat designs might be an improved version of the same platform, introduced during a mid-life refresh in 2026, or potentially sourced from another manufacturer if it offers better passenger experience and cost-effectiveness.
The A330neo is expected to primarily replace older A330s and some Boeing 777s on high-capacity regional routes, but it may also enable Cathay to operate these aircraft on longer-haul routes. “The A330 has served Cathay Pacific well for nearly 30 years,” said CEO Ronald Lam. “These new aircraft will mainly serve our regional destinations in Asia, while also providing flexibility for longer routes as needed.”
In addition to its initial order of 30 A330neos, Cathay holds purchase rights for another 30 aircraft, which could be used either for replacement or expansion. The airline is also exploring the possibility of introducing a new business class configuration for its Airbus A350 fleet as part of a mid-life refresh program.
