British Airways Is Trading 88 Economy Seats for a Record Business Class

British Airways has begun retrofitting its Airbus A380s, and the numbers show a clear shift toward premium cabins. The first aircraft is being fitted with the new interiors and is expected to return to service in the coming months. The retrofit takes the plane from 469 seats to 417, adding business and premium economy seats while cutting economy sharply.

Today’s layout has 14 first class, 97 business, 55 premium economy and 303 economy seats. The reconfigured aircraft will have 12 first, 106 business, 84 premium economy and 215 economy. That works out to nine more business seats, 29 more premium economy seats, two fewer first class seats and 88 fewer economy seats. The airline has not said how many A380s will be refitted, though one reader comment mentions 12, which is unconfirmed.

The biggest structural change is that all business class moves to the upper deck. There, 106 seats are arranged in four zones, which the report describes as the world’s largest business class cabin. First class, premium economy and economy will all sit on the lower deck. The new first class keeps a lower-deck location with proper doors and more storage, and it is expected to be carried over to the airline’s 777X jets later, although their delivery timing is uncertain.

For passengers, the practical effect depends on the cabin. Business and premium economy travelers gain more seats to choose from, while economy passengers will find fewer seats on each flight. It may also make bargain fares on the A380 harder to find, since there are fewer of them to sell.

Sources: One Mile at a Time, One Mile at a Time Weekly Review