British Airways this week gave a first look at the new cabins it will install on its overhauled Airbus A380s.
The carrier unveiled renderings of redesigned First, Club World (business), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and World Traveller (economy) seats. Every seat across every cabin on the A380 will be replaced, officials said, and new carpets, galleys, and stairways will be put in.
The Club World cabin will contain 106 seats, making it the largest business class in the world.
“This is a major milestone for British Airways and the future of our A380 fleet, marking one of the most significant transformations we’ve ever undertaken on any aircraft,” Sean Doyle, the carrier’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “We’ve completely reimagined the customer experience, introducing new and updated seats in every cabin, all carefully considered to deliver greater comfort and an elevated customer experience.”
First, the airline’s most premium offering, comes with sliding privacy doors, a stowable table, an entertainment screen, storage space, sleepwear, slippers, an amenity kit, a refreshed dining experience, and dedicated cabin crew, known as First Service Specialists. Passengers in center seats can open their dividers to share space if desired. At night, flight attendants prepare the suite with a luxury mattress, a lightweight cotton duvet, and a newly designed pillow.
The Club World cabin covers the A380’s full upper deck, with four distinct cabin zones. These seats come with fully lie-flat beds, privacy doors, and 17-inch screens. There will also be dedicated “dwelling areas,” as well as Club Kitchens.
Customers in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus will get larger entertainment screens and higher quality blankets and pillows. World Traveller Plus seats will also come with privacy wings.
British Airways’ herringbone design and blue-red-cream color palette will tie the four cabins and other interior spaces together, officials said.
Besides the 106 business-class seats, there will be 12 seats in First, 84 in World Traveller Plus, and 215 in World Traveller.
British Airways currently operates 12 A380s. The first upgraded aircraft is expected to reenter service “in the coming months,” BA said.
