In late 2024, we saw Cathay Pacific launch its new Aria Suite business class. I’ve had the chance to fly it, and it’s a phenomenal product. Cathay Pacific is a world class airline, and this really elevates the carrier’s business class to being among the best in the world.
As is the case with any new product, the challenge is the lengthy rollout, as actually retrofitting aircraft with a new product can take years. With that in mind, we’re continuing to see this product introduced on more planes, so in this post, I want to go over the current status of that. Let me recap all the details, including which planes have the Aria Suite product, and which routes the planes regularly fly.
In this post:
Which planes have Cathay Pacific Aria Suite seats?
Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite business class is debuting on Boeing 777-300ERs. Specifically, the airline is reconfiguring its entire fleet of long haul 777s with these new cabins, and hopes to finish this project by the end of 2027.
There are no firm plans to retrofit this product on other long haul aircraft, including the Airbus A330, Airbus A350, etc. Furthermore, regional Boeing 777s won’t be getting these cabins. However, this is also the product we’ll find on the carrier’s new Boeing 777-9s, once those are delivered (the aircraft has already been delayed by at least six years due to certification issues).
As it currently stands, seven Cathay Pacific 777-300ERs have been reconfigured with the new cabins. This includes the planes with the following registration codes:
Cathay Pacific is reconfiguring planes in Xiamen (XMN), and it seems that each jet takes around seven weeks to get interior overhauls, which is quite a long time.
Which routes feature Cathay Pacific Aria Suite seats?
Which routes is Cathay Pacific currently operating with its Aria Suite Boeing 777-300ERs? Currently, you’ll find the plane operating between Hong Kong (HKG) and the following destinations:
- Beijing (PEK) daily, on the CX334/335 rotation
- London (LHR) daily, on the CX255/250 rotation
- Melbourne (MEL) daily, on the CX105/104 rotation
- Sydney (SYD) daily, on the CX161/162 rotation
- Vancouver (YVR) daily, on the CX888/865 rotation
Let me of course add the disclaimer that aircraft assignments are always subject to change, and you’ll want to consult the seat map for the flight you’re looking to book, to confirm that it’s expected to feature the Aria Suite. Furthermore, the above assignments apply through the end of the IATA summer 2025 travel schedule, which goes through late October 2025. Aircraft assignments haven’t consistently been updated beyond that.
What are the best ways to verify that a route features Aria Suite seats?
- If you look up a flight on Google Flights, it’ll show as having an “Individual suite” product in business class if it has Aria Suite, rather than showing as having a “Lie flat seat”
- If you look up a flight on Cathay Pacific’s website, you’ll see the aircraft type listed, so click on that, and if the plane features Aria Suite, the seat map will specifically say there are “45 Aria suites”
- If you look at a seat map, you’ll see that the 777-300ER with the Aria Suite product has 45 business class seats, rather than 40; you’ll notice that the plane has seats at row 14 (unlike the non-Aria Suite product), and also has four seats in row 20 (unlike the non-Aria Suite product, where there are just two seats)
If you’re looking to redeem miles for this product, keep in mind that Cathay Pacific’s own program has access to the most award space, so that’s how you’d want to book.
Bottom line
Cathay Pacific currently has seven Boeing 777-300ERs equipped with the new Aria Suite business class product, and plans to reconfigure all 777-300ERs by the end of 2027.
Currently, you’ll find the planes flying from Hong Kong to Beijing, London, Melbourne, Sydney, and Vancouver. You can expect more routes to get the new product as time goes on, but with each plane taking nearly two months to be reconfigured, it’s not exactly a fast process.
What do you make of Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite routes?
PEK seems to be missing Aria in end nov. Not sure whether this applies to the entire NW schedule. CX334/335 operated by A333 instead.
Switched to sapporo for 2 months i believe
And just to add as you haven't covered or at least mentioned it, but their 773s (non-ER) as well as select A330s will be getting a refresh which consist of seat covers to match the new colours palette as well high powered USB-C charging ports. Similar to their 744s and A343s years before they were retired, they had new seat covers and trim to match the first generation Cirrus product.
https://www.executivetraveller.com/cathay-pacific-s-business-class-refresh-for-airbus-a340s
https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/cathay-777-regional-business-class
The 773s will...
And just to add as you haven't covered or at least mentioned it, but their 773s (non-ER) as well as select A330s will be getting a refresh which consist of seat covers to match the new colours palette as well high powered USB-C charging ports. Similar to their 744s and A343s years before they were retired, they had new seat covers and trim to match the first generation Cirrus product.
https://www.executivetraveller.com/cathay-pacific-s-business-class-refresh-for-airbus-a340s
https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/cathay-777-regional-business-class
The 773s will apparently be around for quite a while as there is no adequate replacement; they are looking into converting some 77Ws for regional use.
Does a plane with Aria Suites mean the new Prem Econ too?
Yes
The big question of course is when will Cathay be releasing their new first class product 'Halo Suites' and on what routes.
When they get their 777Xs and that's still up in the air! (Excuse the pun)
The Aria suites are a significant, if slightly boring, upgrade to the existing Business Class product on CX, which has great personal service, very good food, and a great entertainment system but dated cabins (I'm talking about the non-renovated 77Ws) and the airline's entire look and feel is unchanged since the 1990s and it shows. Cathay desperately needs a brand refresh. It's surprising how well they are doing considering Hong Kong has lost its status...
The Aria suites are a significant, if slightly boring, upgrade to the existing Business Class product on CX, which has great personal service, very good food, and a great entertainment system but dated cabins (I'm talking about the non-renovated 77Ws) and the airline's entire look and feel is unchanged since the 1990s and it shows. Cathay desperately needs a brand refresh. It's surprising how well they are doing considering Hong Kong has lost its status as a major financial hub, displaced by Singapore since 2018 and unlikely to ever regain its former status on par with London, New York, etc...in the world if finance.
Not 1990… CX had “coffin” seats in J until 2010-ish that were replace by the current ones!
I think they mean the colour palette. Green has been around forever so the new Aria colours are a welcome improvement.
I would guess the US will get it last because they want to have enough frames to provide a consistent experience as well as rectifying any potential defects or issues.
Moving on, there are rumors of an upcoming order in the next couple of months for more A350s as they can certainly use more. And the new A330 business class seats are in pre-production.