1 hr ago
British Airways Unveils Largest Business Class on Upgraded A380 Jets
British Airways is changing the inside of its 12 double-decker A380 planes.
It plans to put a very large business-class cabin across the whole upper deck.
The airline says the first changed plane should start flying in the coming months.
First-class seats will also get dividers that can fold away for people traveling together.
The planes will carry fewer people after the changes.
Economy seats will make up most of the reduction.
Each plane takes about 100 days to refit.
British Airways says limited space for flights at Heathrow makes it harder to replace these big planes with smaller ones.
British Airways plans to give all 12 of its Airbus A380s a new business-class cabin spanning the upper deck.
The airline calls it the world's biggest business class, and says the first upgraded aircraft will enter service in coming months.
The refit will add folding dividers to first-class seating so middle seats can form larger cabins for passengers traveling together.
The changes will cut total capacity by 11%, from 469 seats to 417, with economy reduced about 30% to 215 seats.
British Airways says refitting each aircraft takes about 100 days; Heathrow slot constraints make replacing the A380s with smaller jets difficult.
- Who
- British Airways, owned by IAG SA.
- What
- A refit of its 12 Airbus A380s, including a new upper-deck business-class cabin and revised first-class seating.
- Where
- The changes were announced at an event in London and apply to British Airways' A380 fleet; Heathrow slot constraints are cited.
- When
- The first upgraded aircraft is due to enter service in coming months; each refit takes about 100 days.
- Why
- The airline is targeting premium passengers, while limited Heathrow slots make it harder to replace the A380s with smaller aircraft.
Key facts
- Aircraft in fleet
- 12 Airbus A380s
- Current total capacity
- 469 seats
- Capacity after refit
- 417 seats, an 11% reduction
- Economy capacity after refit
- 215 seats, about 30% fewer
- Business-class location
- The entire upper deck
- Refit duration
- About 100 days per aircraft
- First upgraded aircraft
- Due to enter service in coming months
Quotes
Sean Doyle
Chief executive officer of British Airways
“This is the largest single investment that any airline has ever made in reconfiguring an aircraft stretching from nose to tail and touching every single aspect of the experience on board.”
NDTV
Sources
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