British Airways: new first suites, business class

British Airways will spend a staggering £7 billion over the next two years to deliver what CEO Sean Doyle promises will be “the most significant transformation” in its history, which puts passengers front and centre.

First up will be free messaging via chat apps to all passengers on WiFi-enabled flights (provided those passengers are members of the airline’s Executive Club loyalty programme) starting from April 3 and available “on every WiFi-enabled aircraft within two weeks of the rollout date.”

April will also see the debut of new business and economy seats on British Airways’ workhorse A320neo and A321neo jets, which criss-cross the UK and Europe.

New deliveries of 20 single-aisle aircraft will sport a fresh take on both Club Europe and Euro Traveller seating.

The seats themselves are the same between each cabin, of course – but this time around, they’re upholstered in navy blue with red piping around the headrest, with USB-A and USB-C charging ports, plus the return of the leather tray console between the aisle and window seats in Club Europe business class.

The new British Airways Club Europe business class seat.

Passengers will also welcome the extra-large overhead luggage bins of the new jets.

BA hasn’t revealed if the new seats or even larger bins will be retrofitted across its 30-odd existing A320neo and A321neo jets.

British Airways is also pushing ahead with an upgrade of its Airbus A380s, replacing the dorm-like business class with its vastly-superior Club Suite, as well as rolling out an all-new first class suite design.

The UK flag-carrier has confirmed its plans “to introduce a brand-new and exclusive First suite” to the superjumbo fleet, saying the new First suite will “make its debut at the end of 2025 into early 2026 as part of its A380 aircraft refurbishment.”

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There’s speculation the primo cabin could be relocated to the upper deck in the process, even if it means cutting down on the current lower-deck count of 14 First suites in the name of more space and luxury for high flyers. Such a move would be in keeping with recent first class forays by Singapore Airlines, as well as Lufthansa and Qantas.

Relocating first class to the nose of the upper deck could then see the entire floor become a ‘premium’ cabin, with the lower or main deck dedicated to premium economy and economy.

BA will spend hundreds of millions of pounds bringing the superjumbos up to modern spec, including replacing the outdated Club World business class with current Club Suites, which offer direct aisle access, more space and privacy for travellers and sliding doors.

Club Suites business class is finally coming to the British Airways A380.

The superjumbo refresh was originally slated to commence in 2023 and run through to 2025, until the global pandemic not only scuppered those plans – while also pushing back the Boeing 787 refurbs – but saw all twelve A380s grounded.

British Airways has long planned a new first class for its Boeing 777-9 jets, which were initially due in 2022 but are now unlikely to be delivered until 2026 at the earliest.

Its most recent changes to first class involved a refresh of the current Dreamliner First suite to add a sliding door, which has since debuted on the Boeing 777.

BA's latest first class added a door to the Boeing 787 First suite.

Also in the pipeline is a complete make-over of BA’s Heathrow lounges – a project which will take five years, and begin with the T5 Arrivals Lounge – while also embracing the airlines Global Lounge Concept.

That new look has been shaped by architectural firm Gensler, who were behind the New York JFK lounges jointly operated by American Airlines and British Airways, and will also appear at all-new lounges slated to open in 2025 in Dubai and Miami.