British Airways will install its updated Club Suites business class across the rest of its Heathrow-based 777 fleet. Retrofits are expected to complete by the end of 2022.
When we launched our Club Suite product, it was a huge hit with our customers who loved the privacy the new seat offers. We are focused on the roll out of this product and other cabin enhancements to ensure we deliver on our commitment to provide the very best British quality, style and comfort for our customers.
– Sajida Ismail, Head of Inflight Product at British Airways
The Club Suite first rolled out in July 2019 on British Airways’ A350 fleet. It also flies on the Boeing 787-10 aircraft. The seat offers direct-aisle access, a suite door for greater privacy and flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration.
The first retrofit 777 took flight with the seat in October 2019. Conversions have continued, even through the pandemic. British Airways already converted 25 planes in the fleet, more than half the total.
Compared to the prior generation Club World seats, Club Suites offer significant improvements for the passenger experience. Among the notable upgrades are a significant boost in storage and 18.5″ IFE screens. The on-board content selection is expanded as well.
Some of the 777s already fly with the retrofitted seat. British Airways will be working with Collins Aerospace to bring the cabin to the rest of the aircraft.
Trevor Skelly, General Manager Integration Engineering for Collins Aerospace, said: “The upgraded Club World cabin raises British Airways’ already high standards and provides commonality across their fleet of aircraft. Our Integration Engineering team has worked closely with British Airways designers for several years to bring the latest in business class comfort, style and privacy from concept to reality.”
As part of the upgrade, the airline’s Club Kitchen is also getting a makeover with new Club chillers and built-in storage for snacks, drinks and other refreshments. These allow customers in Club World business class to help themselves to refreshments at their leisure.
The 777-300s will also receive BA’s updated first class suite seats. These also include a privacy door, plus a 23″ HD inflight entertainment screen.
BA also announced all its JFK flights expect to operate with Club Suites-equipped aircraft. While eventually this will apply to all routes, focusing on JFK first underscores the extra value that market demands and delivers.
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