British Airways has unveiled its stunning new First seat, which combines elegant design with expert British craftsmanship.

The British flag carrier has created a new First class seat that will be added to the airline’s fleet of A380 aircraft as part of the fleet’s retrofit. It’s expected to take to the skies in mid-2026.

READ: Capella Singapore Unveils New-look Manors

The airline’s new First has been carefully designed to provide the feel of a modern luxury hotel, alongside home comforts and thoughtful British touches at 35,000ft. The seat has been beautifully curated by expert designers and world-class manufacturers from all corners of Great Britain and Ireland, including London, Glasgow, West Yorkshire, Kilkeel and Dublin.

The new ultra-wide 36.5-inch seat converts to a 79-inch-long bed and features a multi-purpose ottoman and elegant stowable table, a 32-inch 4K TV screen, and adjustable mood lighting so that each passenger can set the mood for their own flight. The seat can be adjusted with the touch of a button to find the perfect level of comfort and is located within a cocooned 60-inch curved wall for ultimate privacy, whilst still providing a spacious environment.

READ: These 6 Hotels & Resorts Have Sustainability in Their DNA

For customers travelling together in the centre of the cabin, the divider slides open to create a shared lounge space, and the stowable tables mean customers can enjoy ‘buddy dining’ in the seat with their travel companion.

The elegant curves throughout the cabin take inspiration from British Airways’ Concorde wings, giving a natural flow to the space and creating a welcoming environment. Customers can now simply wheel their luggage into their personal luggage space, making it even easier to settle in before their flight.

READ: Five Spectacular Locations to Witness the Northern Lights

Elsewhere, the suite features an ambient light with an eye-catching design that subtly references the airline’s speed marque and further nods to Concorde. The suite features window blinds, activated by buttons on the internal control panel for all three windows per seat. The soft panelling inside the seat also helps with acoustics and absorbing sound, which adds to the sense of being in a cocooned, private space. Customers can also use the seat’s brand-new ‘do not disturb’ functionality on its wireless control tablet, which notifies crew if they wish to maximise their rest on board.

The airline listened to colleagues and customers to help shape design elements and specific features to suit preferences, such as the carefully placed stowage with useability and purpose in mind. The airline also introduced its fully rectangular bed following customer feedback that replicates all the comforts of a home environment.

READ: We Review Hong Kong’s Newest Culinary Hotspot 

The airline also worked closely with world-class manufacturer, Collins Aerospace RTX business, to create the First seat, following its involvement in carefully crafting British Airways’ Club Suite and short-haul aircraft seats earlier this year.

Customers travelling in First can also enjoy exclusive access to lounges – including the use of the First Wing at London Heathrow – fast-track security, and excellent service on board.