British Airways will introduce what it called the world’s biggest business class on its upgraded double-decker Airbus SE A380 jets, targeting premium passengers. IAG SA-owned British Airways will update its fleet of a dozen A380s with a new business class cabin spanning the entire upper deck, the airline said at an event in London on Monday. The first upgraded A380 is due to enter service in coming months.
The carrier will also upgrade first class seating with dividers that fold away, enabling the conversion of middle seats into larger cabins. The changes will reduce the number of seats by 11%, from 469 to 417, with the bulk of the reduction coming from economy class. Economy berths will be reduced by about 30% to 215 seats.
British Airways CEO Sean Doyle said this is the largest single investment any airline has ever made in reconfiguring an aircraft. Retrofitting one aircraft takes about 100 days. The decision makes British Airways an industry outlier as rivals phase out the four-engine behemoth for smaller jets.
US and European carriers like Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines Inc. have been pouring money into premium seating to target well-heeled passengers. British Airways first unveiled plans for the new first class in November 2024.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing