British Airways will be introducing the new Airbus A350-1000 next year. The carrier has also announced it will feature three classes, Club World, Premium Economy and World Traveller.
Much has been made about the fact that the aircraft will not feature First Class. Some predict the end of this class in Europe, but the reality is somewhat different.
British Airways Airbus A350
Anyone who has any knowledge of British Airways will know that First Class is not featured on all their aircraft. Many long haul jets are configured exactly the same as the new Airbus A350.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has no First Class, neither do some of the Boeing 777-200 fleet. Some of the BA network does not require the top cabin, such as the leisure routes out of London Gatwick.
While speculation is rife, it has been stated there will be a fixed entertainment screen allowing gate to gate inflight entertainment. Also, evolution is another word that has come out, rather than revolution.
Overall Thoughts
Time for a prediction. The new Airbus A350 will have a Club World product that retains the current yin yang arrangement and a cabin density that is close to now. Fixed screens will be at one end of the suite, and it will be as spacious as it is today.
While some moan that 8 abreast business class is terrible, I am not in that camp. The BA seat is spacious and only half and inch narrower on each side than some other long haul premium seats. Improvements will be welcome however and I am looking forward to seeing what comes.
What do you think of the Airbus A350 news? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Clemens Vasters, Viersen, Germany via Wikimedia Commons.
I’m in the moan category. For the last 20 years, BA has either coasted on improvements or actively made their product worse. Why not go with seating like EVA or Cathay? It wouldn’t be ground breaking but it would advance them to the level of being competitive.
I like how they have a bespoke product that is unlike all the other airlines. In a world of airlines that actually have the exact same seat, just with different fabrics and a minute amount of customisation, it’s nice when an airline does something truly unique. BA Club World is in that category, as are the QSuites at Qatar. More of that kind of innovation should be encouraged in the industry. Thanks for the comment!
You are definitely in the minority. With Virgin bringing a new biz seat on-line in 2019, Aer Lingus and Iberia now offering a better hard product, the BA product is at a strong disadvantage. Unless you are a total BA loyalist, most avoid- particularly on 777. I have a few colleagues who avoid BA for premium travel (as I do); with AA, as in American Airlines, offering a significantly better experience than BA, at least there are many OneWorld options. American offers a better experience than BA—that seems like all kinds of wrong.
I don’t know about that when it comes to the hard product. The Aer Lingus product is great – for day flights. I had one of the throne seats and found it very narrow for sleeping and the foot cubby is terribly constrictive. From the perspective of not having your feet hemmed in, Club World is streets ahead. Don’t get me wrong, it does need updating – all the seats need to be aisle access, the entertainment screen needs to be in a fixed position (as I’ve been on several flights having to wedge it into place), and storage needs a rethink, but it is certainly not a terrible product. I think it’s quite middle of the road. You are correct though – Qatar’s business class is streets ahead, Cathay Pacific’s has far more space, and I’ve heard good things about American too. Cross fingers the new product is competitive! Thanks for the comment.