British Airways remains confident in the ongoing viability of first class, despite the increasing competitiveness of business class offerings. The airline’s latest first class suites are designed to reinforce this belief.
The bespoke design features an ultra-wide 36.5-inch seat facing a nearly identical 32-inch 4K screen, set within a 60-inch-high curved wall equipped with sliding doors for enhanced privacy. At the touch of a button, elegant blinds can be drawn over all three windows in each suite.
The middle seats are innovatively designed to move beyond a standard divider; for passengers traveling together, the center panel completely retracts, creating a shared lounge space, with the option of ‘table for two’ dining available if one passenger occupies the ottoman.
In collaboration with seat manufacturer Collins Aerospace and designer Tangerine, British Airways has created a 79-inch fully rectangular bed, responding to customer feedback by ensuring comfort akin to a home environment. Each suite also includes an in-suite wardrobe capable of accommodating a compact cabin bag, allowing passengers to easily wheel their luggage into their designated space, thus facilitating a more convenient pre-flight settling process.
Slide-out drawers provide storage for small essentials such as passports, reading glasses, mobile phones, amenity kits, and handbags. The suite is equipped with modern conveniences, including AC, USB-C and USB-A power outlets, wireless device charging, and a touchscreen controller for seat adjustments and inflight entertainment, along with a convenient Do Not Disturb indicator.
Soft sound-absorbing materials line the interiors of each suite, enhancing the sense of a private cocooned space. All new first class suites from British Airways feature adjustable mood lighting, with pre-set scenes designed for relaxation, dining, and cinema experiences.
“The elegant curves throughout the cabin draw inspiration from British Airways’ Concorde wings, contributing to a seamless flow and creating a welcoming atmosphere,” the airline states. The ambient lighting incorporates design elements that subtly reference the airline’s speedmarque and pays homage to the iconic Concorde.
The bespoke design emphasizes a ‘best of British’ approach by sourcing luxury leather from UK suppliers for the headrest, seat surround, ottoman, and cupboard interiors. The reveal of red leather with cream stitching is reminiscent of a custom Savile Row suit, while blended wool from Yorkshire and Dublin, along with embroidery thread from Lancashire, completes the refined aesthetic.
British Airways’ new first class suites are set to debut on the Airbus A380 superjumbo in mid-2026, as part of a refit that will also enhance the business class with the latest Club Suites.
The distinctive curvature of the cabin ceiling depicted in some images suggests that the first class cabin will be relocated to the upper deck, although it remains uncertain if the number of suites will be reduced from the current total of 14.
Additionally, the same first class suites are slated to feature on British Airways’ forthcoming Boeing 777-9 jets, with deliveries anticipated to begin sometime after 2026.
