As promised in our £7bn transformation plan earlier this year, a shiny new First seat has been unveiled. Here, we take you all the way down to the stitches (literally) and reveal the unparalleled comfort that’s coming on board

1. It’s the only First seat by a European carrier available between the UK and US
The new First seat isn’t an evolution – it’s a revolution. As the only European carrier to fly First between the UK and US, we know transatlantic travellers want the best of the very best, and this new seat is just that. Plus, it will be here sooner than you think, with a debut in mid 2026 across our retrofitted A380 fleet. 

2. It takes inspiration from the world of premium hotels
A bespoke product for our planes, the new seat is inspired by the world of high-end hotels, blending all the modern flair of classic British design with a meticulous attention to detail – not to mention the finest possible materials. In the new First suite, you should feel as if you’re checking into the chicest new luxury hotel with all the indulgent comforts of home.

3. It’s been made with an award-winning London design agency
We’ve worked with Tangerine Design Consultancy, an award-winning London agency with more than 35 years’ experience creating elevated experiences for the likes of Apple and Toyota. The team developed a bespoke colour palette and materials to our exacting standards, and ensured everything about the new suite has been designed with your ultimate comfort in mind.

4. It stretches out into a 6ft 7in bed
Let’s get into the nitty gritty, shall we? While you might start your journey in the sky’s most comfortable chair – with 27.5in in between the armrests and a total 36.5in width overall (our widest ever) – the seat extends into our longest bed yet, at 6ft 7in. Get ready to stretch out in style. 

5. It has 5ft-high walls for ultimate privacy
Seclusion and privacy without feeling overly enclosed – that’s the vibe achieved via gently curving 5ft-high walls. The suite doors feature a louvred design that, while providing total privacy, still allows you a reassuring glimpse of cabin crew passing through the aisle. The high walls have also seen the removal of overhead baggage lockers completely, redefining the cabin and creating a wonderful sense of open space.

6. It has a multi-purpose ottoman 
The suite comes complete with a multi-use ottoman, covered in the finest Scottish leather, positioned at the end of the bed. It can be turned into a footrest at the touch of a button, be used as a seat for any visiting family members or friends (more on that to come) and also provides storage space for a standard-sized cabin bag. It’s elegant, stowable and can be moved aside (flipped 90°) to increase access in the suite. It also moves silently back and forth electronically. 

7. You can have your own private dinner party in the sky
Expecting guests? Your delightful ottoman can be used as a seat so you can enjoy ‘buddy’ dining with a travel companion of your choice and share meals as if in your very own private restaurant, complete with a dining table that glides effortlessly at the press of a button. For pairs travelling in the two central suites, the divider between the two slides back electronically so you can share a dedicated lounge space – making you feel as if you’re the only two people on the plane. 

8. It brings together some of the UK’s finest craftsmanship 
We’ve entrusted our First suite with only the highest quality creators and makers around the country. This includes fine luxury leather from Muirhead, based in Scotland, whose leather has graced such legendary icons as the Queen Elizabeth II, the Orient Express and Concorde. Look out for the attention to detail in the cupboard interiors - red leather with intricate cream stitching, reflecting a bespoke Savile Row suit – that reveal drinks and snacks, a mirror and our luxury amenity kit. 

9. Its curves were inspired by Concorde
The luxury look and feel of the First seat will be apparent from the moment you board, with design motifs and materials evoking the curvature of the wings of Concorde. The eye-catching design of an ambient light at the front of the suite on the upper leaf of the console subtly references our Speedmarque and provides a further nod to the curving Concorde wings. Expect a flow to the First cabin like never before. 

10. It’s controlled by a 10in tablet
At the touch of button, your wireless 10in tablet can adjust your seat, your bed, the lights of your suite and even your headrest – so you can curate your perfect level of comfort without moving a muscle. Your tablet is also one way to work the IFE, so no having to lean forward to flick through your movie menu. There’s also wireless charging and a handy phone and tablet holder at your fingertips that can be angled to suit your needs. 

11. It has a 32in screen
Speaking of which, your in-flight entertainment comes courtesy of a large, 32in, 4k screen mounted to the wall (with elegant backlighting, no less). And, for the first time, it comes with the option to connect via Bluetooth if you’d like to bring along your trusty wireless headphones. So not only is the suite your own private hotel room – it’s a cinema, too.

12. It can be lit however you’d like, whenever you’d like
The intensity and even the colour of the lighting in your suite is controlled by a number of pre-programmed lighting settings – such as ‘relax’, ‘dine’, ‘movie’ – that can be selected at different points during your flight, depending on what you’d like to do next. Thoughtful ambient lighting is just one of the customisable elements available to tweak via your wireless tablet or buttons on your right. 

13. It has all the room 
There’s baggage stowage in abundance in the new First suite – not that you’ll notice, thanks to its seamless design. Each seat has a full height cupboard on the aisle side, carefully made with enough space for a cabin/wheelie bag (56 x 45 x 25cm). There’s even a hanger inside for your coats and jackets. Behind the jacket space is a further stowage compartment, where you’ll find your pyjamas and slippers. Plus, there’s your ottoman, which can fit a standard cabin bag, pull-out stowage so you can keep your personal bag close to hand, and a handy drinks compartment, elegantly lit behind a frosted panel, with space for water bottles and snacks.

14. It features real wood – and recycled plastic
Yes, it’s our most sustainably-minded seat yet, using recycled plastic on parts of the seat that you won’t necessarily see. It’s also the first time we’ve used bio-based resins in the composite seat structure (and an industry first for a commercial airline). As for the real wood, you’ll see it in the panel near the cocktail surface and tech area. 

15. It’s more accessible 
For those with restricted mobility or in wheelchairs, the front wall of the suite is hinged to increase access. The ottoman can then be flipped and the seat can be motioned forward, allowing for easier transfer from a wheelchair, as an example. 

16. It’s manufactured in Northern Ireland
Collins Aerospace knows a thing or two about aircraft interiors: it has racked up 12 Crystal Cabin awards – the only international award for excellence in aircraft interior innovation. Our new seat is being made at Collins’ centre of excellence in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, and marks the facility’s first ever first-class product.

Words by Hannah Ralph

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