In 2019, British Airways introduced its new Club Suites business class, featuring direct aisle access and doors. This marks a massive improvement to the carrier’s business class experience. As is always the case when new business class products are introduced, the big question is the timeline with which seats will be rolled out.
There’s now an update when it comes to British Airways retrofitting its existing Boeing 787s, as this has all taken a bit longer than planned. The good news is that the first reconfigured 787 with Club Suites is now in service, so that’s a major development.
British Airways 787-8s & 787-9s getting Club Suites
As far as British Airways’ Club Suites rollout schedule goes, the airline has been taking delivery of Airbus A350-1000s and Boeing 787-10s with the new business class product. On top of that, the airline has been reconfiguring Boeing 777s with these new seats, and at this point, virtually all Heathrow-based 777s feature the new Club Suites product.
However, up until recently, there wasn’t a single Boeing 787-8 or Boeing 787-9 in service with the new cabins. That has just changed, as the first British Airways Boeing 787-8 with new cabins has just entered passenger service. Specifically, the jet has the registration code G-ZBJA, and it operated its first passenger flight on June 20, 2024, after being in the “shop” in Cardiff (CWL) since late March 2024.
You can expect that future 787s won’t take three months each to be reconfigured. Instead, it’s common for it to take extra time for the first aircraft to be reconfigured, since special certification is required.
British Airways isn’t promising that the reconfigured 787-8 will operate any particular route. However, I currently see the plane scheduled on select frequencies from London (LHR) to Baltimore (BWI), Chennai (MAA), Montreal (YUL), and Pittsburgh (PIT). Service isn’t daily in any market for now, so you’ll want to check the seat map.
This project has all taken a lot longer than expected. Back when the Club Suites rollout first started, the plan was for 787-8s and 787-9s to get these new cabins as of 2021. However, the pandemic delayed the timeline for that. The updated schedule was that the first 787-8 should enter service with new cabins as of 2023, but that also didn’t stick.
With the 787s now starting to get new cabins, the only wide body aircraft we’re still waiting on are the A380s, as those planes should get new cabins around 2026.
How is British Airways reconfiguring 787s?
How should we expect the layouts of British Airways’ Boeing 787s to change as they’re reconfigured?
British Airways Boeing 787-8s will go from having 214 seats to having 204 seats, resulting in a capacity reduction of 10 seats:
- Business class will go from 35 seats to 31 seats
- Premium economy will to from 25 seats to 37 seats
- Economy will go from 154 seats to 136 seats
As you can see, while there’s a small reduction in business class seats, British Airways is betting big on premium economy.
Meanwhile British Airways Boeing 787-9s will go from having 216 seats to having 215 seats, resulting in a capacity reduction of one seat:
- First class will maintain eight seats
- Business class will go from 42 seats to 38 seats
- Premium economy will maintain 39 seats
- Economy will go from 127 seats to 130 seats
There’s not nearly as much of a change to the Boeing 787-9 configuration, as I imagine we’re not seeing most cabin dividers moved.
Bottom line
British Airways has started the process of retrofitting existing Boeing 787s with its new Club Suites business class. The first 787-8 with new cabins is now in service. I’d expect it will take at least through the end of 2025 for all existing 787s to get Club Suites, and maybe that’s even optimistic.
On top of that, we’re seeing some general changes to cabin layouts here. On the Boeing 787-8, we’ll also see a significant increase in premium economy capacity.
What do you make of British Airways reconfiguring its Boeing 787s?
Membership is free and takes no more information than commenting as a guest. Earn status points for good contributions, and see fewer ads as your status grows.