In 2014 Air France launched their “Best & Beyond” project, which marked the beginning of the airline installing new cabins on their planes, including their new reverse herringbone business class seats, as well as their awesome new first class cabins.
Air France La Premiere first class cabin
Air France’s new business class installation progress
Air France sure has taken their time with reconfiguring new planes, though they’re making progress. As it stands:
- All 787-9s were delivered with new reverse herringbone business class seats
- All A350-900s are being delivered with new business class seats, though they chose different seats than on other planes
- A330-200s are in the process of getting new business class seats, though they’re flat beds in a 2-2-2 configuration
- 777s have been progressively getting new business class seats; the first 777 got the new seats about five years ago, and the project is ongoing
- No A380s are getting new business class seats, as the planes are being retired by 2022
New Air France A330-200 business class cabin
Air France’s new high density 777 cabins
Air France has a subfleet of 10 777-300s that they fly to leisure destinations, including in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean. Up until now these planes haven’t yet received new cabins (meaning they have angled seats in business class), but that’s finally changing.
In 2020, Air France will be reconfiguring all 10 of their high density 777s, in a project that will cost €120 million.
These redesigned planes will feature 472 seats, including 14 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 430 economy seats.
Air France’s new 777 business class
While Air France has installed reverse herringbone seats on their reconfigured 777s up until now, for the high density 777s the airline will be installing the same business class seats they have on their A350s. These are virtually the same as what you’ll find in United Polaris.
The 14 business class seats will feature direct aisle access, beds that are nearly two meters long, and 18.5″ HD screens.
New Air France high density 777 business class seats
New Air France high density 777 business class seats
By the way, while totally insignificant, avgeeks may notice that the renderings are from the A350, based on the windows and overhead bins. 😉
Air France’s new 777 premium economy class
The high density Air France 777 will feature 28 premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration. The seats will have 130 degrees of recline, a fixed shell, and 13.3″ HD screens.
New Air France high density 777 premium economy seats
New Air France high density 777 premium economy seats
Air France’s new 777 economy class
Air France’s 430 economy seats on the 777-300 will be in a 3-4-3 configuration, and will feature 118 degrees of recline.
New Air France high density 777 economy seats
New Air France high density 777 economy seats
Air France 777s are getting Wi-Fi as well
These planes will also be getting Wi-Fi, as Air France hopes to have their entire fleet with Wi-Fi by the end of 2020. There will be three passes available:
- A free “Message” pass for all, to send and receive messages during the entire flight
- A “Surf” pass, costing between €8 and €18 to surf the internet
- A “Stream” pass, costing €30 to enjoy high-speed internet access, streaming and downloading, including the “Message” and “Surf” passes
First routes with reconfigured 777s
Starting January 15, 2020, the first reconfigured plane will start flying to Pointe-à-Pitre and Fort de France, and then as of the summer of 2020 reconfigured planes will begin flying to Saint-Denis de la Réunion.
The cabins will then progressively be available on routes to Mauritius, Havana, Cancun, Santa Domingo, and Punta Cana.
Bottom line
While Air France’s new business class installation has gone at a snail’s pace, it seems like the entire fleet should feature Wi-Fi by 2020, and new cabins by 2022 (as the A380s retire).
It’s nice to see even Air France’s high density 777s get new cabins, given that these are among the highest density three cabin 777s in the sky.
I do find the decision to install the A350 business class seat on the high density 777s to be interesting. It’s my understanding that the whole reason Air France installed different business class seats on the A350 was because those planes were supposed to go to Joon, Air France’s low cost carrier, which has since been discontinued.
So while the inconsistency is strange, I guess it’s not surprising that the high density 777s would get similar seats to what you would have otherwise found on Joon.
Personally I find the business class seats on these planes about similarly comfortable to reverse herringbone seats, so it doesn’t bother me one bit.
What do you make of Air France’s new high density 777 cabins?
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