In June, Air France announced that it would introduce a fresh configuration for its Airbus A350s, featuring the carrier’s new cabin products. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as we knew that Air France’s new business class would be installed on A350s eventually. There’s an exciting update, as the first aircraft with these interiors is now flying.
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Air France’s first “new” A350 is now flying
As part of its fleet renewal, Air France has a total of 41 Airbus A350-900 aircraft on order. As of June 2023, the airline had already taken delivery of 20 of these jets, meaning that 21 more jets were on order.
Air France has now taken delivery of its 21st Airbus A350-900, which is the first A350 to feature new cabins. All remaining A350s are expected to join Air France’s fleet by 2025, so you can expect an average of nearly one delivery per month.
The first A350 with the new cabins has the registration code F-HUVA, and its inaugural passenger service is being operated from Paris (CDG) to Vancouver (YVR). It appears that the initial plan is to keep the aircraft on this route, since a single aircraft can operate this rotation daily.
For what it’s worth, Air France’s existing A350-900s feature a total of 324 seats, including 34 business class seats, 24 premium economy seats, and 266 economy class seats. These planes feature a staggered configuration in business class.
They’re in a fairly dense configuration because the jets were initially intended for Joon. This was at one point Air France’s low cost carrier, which has since been discontinued.
Air France’s new A350 configuration & cabins
Air France’s latest Airbus A350s feature an all-new configuration, consisting of 292 seats. This represents quite a capacity reduction, but we’re also seeing significantly more premium seats — there are 14 more business class seats, eight more premium economy seats, and 54 fewer economy class seats.
While there was at one point a rumor that Air France would install first class on A350s, that’s no longer the case. However, Air France does plan to soon introduce a new first class on its 777s.
What exactly should we expect from the new A350 cabins? Let’s take a look.
New Air France A350 business class
Air France’s A350 business class consists of a total of 48 seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration. Air France launched a new business class on Boeing 777-300ERs recently, and now the airline is introducing a different (but similar) product on its Airbus A350-900s.
I’ve reviewed the 777-300ER product, and it’s exceptional. These new business class seats are in a reverse herringbone configuration with doors, and feature great technology, including wireless charging. The product even has some further improvements compared to the 777, as there’s a tablet next to the seat that can control many of the seat’s functions.
The bulkhead seats in this configuration are especially impressive, as they feature more room than you’ll find in most first class products. There are eight of these seats, as there are two business class cabins, with four bulkhead seats in each cabin. If you can snag one of these seats, I’d consider this to be the best business class seat in the world.
New Air France A350 premium economy
Air France’s new A350 premium economy cabin consists of 32 seats, in a 2-4-2 configuration. These are the same premium economy seats you’ll find on the refurbished 777s, with some minor updates.
These premium economy seats offer a total of 94cm (37″) of pitch and 48cm (19″) of width. Furthermore, the seats recline up to 121 degrees. Seats also feature 13.3″ 4K high definition personal monitors, bluetooth audio, and USB-A and USB-C charging.
Some changes have also been made compared to the previous version of the product, including seat cushions having been redesigned to now extend up to the shoulder level. There’s also a four position headrest for optimal comfort.
New Air France A350 economy
Air France’s new A350 economy cabin consists of 212 seats, in a 3-3-3 configuration. These economy seats offer a total of 79cm (31″) of pitch and 46cm (18″) of width. Furthermore, the seats recline up to 119 degrees. Seats also feature 13.3″ 4K high definition personal monitors, bluetooth audio, and USB-A and USB-C charging.
The economy seats also feature a personal smartphone or tablet holder integrated into the backrest, which isn’t available in previous versions of these seats.
Bottom line
Air France has just introduced an all-new Airbus A350 configuration. Prior to this, the airline had taken delivery of 20 A350s, and the next 21 A350s will now feature a fresh layout. These planes are in a more premium configuration, with Air France’s new business class (with more seats), a larger premium economy cabin, and a smaller economy cabin.
The A350 is a joy to fly in general, so when you combine the aircraft with this configuration, it should be a very nice ride.
What do you make of Air France’s new A350 cabins?
I'm flying this plane in August and just found this article. I had no idea I should be seeking out those bulkhead seats! I just changed my seats to row 10 so my husband and I are together. They are bulkhead in the second business class cabin. Are all of the bulkhead seats the same? Or should I be trying to get row 1?
How to tell which one you are getting when booking? do you have to go all the way to the seat map?
Does the new A350 also have 8 of the larger bulkhead seats in row 1 and 10 or is just row 1. It looks like the new plane has been assigned to dtw-Cdg! Thanks
Did you get the answer to this? I just asked the same question
The 350 business seats are terrible. Very uncomfortable for sitting and lying down, it is impossible to turn one’s feet as one’s feet are trapped in a tiny box. These seats are now the worst in the industry.
Fun fact: I thought a350 with dimmable shades weren’t entering service until 2025; until today. I’m currently onboard a new A350 with the new products and dimmable shades. Flight is CDG-IAH.
How did you find the seat? Thinking about booking this route for February.
Just flew this J cabin (landed 45 minutes ago) CDG -IAD on a 773. Was very impressed- nice tech interface and felt like the most spacious reverse herringbone seat I've flown (granted, I did not take measurements).
If the assumption that the same exact seat is installed on an A350, does it stand to reason that seat comfort between the 2 aircraft remains constant, while the difference in the overall fuselage cross section is felt in the aisles?
Does anyone know if all the Air France 777 between JFK and CDG now have these suites with doors? Google Flights still shows only two (AF 15 and AF 22) with "Individual Suites" and the rest as "lie flat seats". I thought all the 777s are now have doors, no?
No, all 777s have not yet been updated with new suites. Believe only 3-cabin 777s without the existing reverse herringbone were the first to be updated. Some have been placed into service to JFK but at this point odds are you’ll still have the older reverse herringbone.
Thank you!
the Biz seat seems cramped and surrounded by cheap plastic materials
Business class looks so......'plastic-y'. Couldn't they have styled up and gone for more textured and stylish finishes?? Of course they could. But they went for the plastic-not-so-fantastic look instead. Awful. But do I concede the patterned carpet is pretty nice, actually.
That was my thought, too. Actually, my literal thought was, "This looks like a biz seat Ikea would design" when I saw that flimsy, plastic "door". There are a lot better reverse herringbone products out there, for sure.
Lol says the one who cannot afford to pay a business class ticket :)
Meh I would rather have certainty that I’ll arrive at my destination than succumb to another AF CRM disaster. Pass.
Ethiopian Airline has this configuration since longtime
So..Air France is reducing the number of economy seats causing economy seats to increase in price and pushing economy passengers to pay more fir economy plus if a person needs to get on a particular flight and economy is sold out. So much for the future of affordable airfares.
Lol, true. And good luck booking in premium economy--as a regular AF flyer, it seems like premium economy is consistently the first class to sell out, at least when flying between the East Coast and Paris.
Lol is AF a charity? If prices are up and don’t go down it’s because there is demand paying it!
You can travel in the first row of business class with Miles, since it has a baby bassinet.
Flew Premium Economy CDG to DFW last weekend albeit on a 787-9. It was truly appalling. Uncomfortable seat, ineffective leg rest and no foot rest on the bulk head. No beverage service for the middle 5 hours of the flight. Snack served 1 hour before landing that was an absolute disgrace - some kind of inedible heated to its bread, tasteless roll, packaged cucumber mayo mush and a nasty muffin served with barely functional wooden...
Flew Premium Economy CDG to DFW last weekend albeit on a 787-9. It was truly appalling. Uncomfortable seat, ineffective leg rest and no foot rest on the bulk head. No beverage service for the middle 5 hours of the flight. Snack served 1 hour before landing that was an absolute disgrace - some kind of inedible heated to its bread, tasteless roll, packaged cucumber mayo mush and a nasty muffin served with barely functional wooden utensils. Beverages were tea coffee or water. Same crap as economy. Was flying on miles which dulled the pain, but definitely wouldn't pay to fly it. So while the hard product on the 350 looks fine, the jury is out on whether it will be a quality experience.
@Johnny Ugh that's disappointing to hear. I had heard the premium economy on the 787s was better than what they have on the 777s, which is garbage (fixed shell so the seats don't actually recline), but it sounds like this isn't the case at all. The A350 premium economy seats look similar to the 787s, so this isn't exactly a ringing endorsement.
I agree re: soft product in premium economy, it's really no different than...
@Johnny Ugh that's disappointing to hear. I had heard the premium economy on the 787s was better than what they have on the 777s, which is garbage (fixed shell so the seats don't actually recline), but it sounds like this isn't the case at all. The A350 premium economy seats look similar to the 787s, so this isn't exactly a ringing endorsement.
I agree re: soft product in premium economy, it's really no different than what you get in economy. And food on AF is generally overrated already, especially if you're not in the front of the plane.
I flew AF in PE on the A350-900 recently. I thought the seats were comfortable enough. I missed an adjustable headrest (which these new seats seem to have), but padding and reclline were decent. Not the best PE seats out there, but a huge upgrade over the fixed-shell seats on the B777. But the service and the quality of the food were indeed disappointing, in particular if you consider that AF is usually more expensive than its competitors.
A question which Ben doesn't address: does the aisle arm rest in PE drop down so it's easier to get out when the seat in front of you is fully reclining? American has that on their 777 PE and I found it really helps make the seat feel more spacious.
Maravilla de clase ejecutiva en Air france. Maravilloso avión Airbus 350-900. Felicidades!!!!!
With such a small space between any airline seats my question is, should they recline at all?
If the person in front of you reclines it cuts down your space.
Drama, lol
The business class looks great. Of course I would prefer the reverse herringbone and the doors. However, the current does not look bad. I am booked on A350s between ATL and CDG this summer and I am excited about the current business class. The only other time I have been in AF business was on the A380 with its 2-2-2. I was traveling with my wife so I did not mind sitting next to someone...
The business class looks great. Of course I would prefer the reverse herringbone and the doors. However, the current does not look bad. I am booked on A350s between ATL and CDG this summer and I am excited about the current business class. The only other time I have been in AF business was on the A380 with its 2-2-2. I was traveling with my wife so I did not mind sitting next to someone instead of in a "pod." But there's no doubt that the current A350 business is better than that and this looks to be better still. Maybe next time I am on AF I can snag one of the new seats!
Should read tomato bread
Air France cabin crews have a very bad habit of locking one of the two lavatories in J on the A350. This leaves just 1 lav for the entire J cabin of I think 32 people. This is unacceptable and is a practice that must stop.
Imagine if the Premium Economy passengers wil now be using the one available lavatory along with the J passengers?
There will be 48 J seats on these A350s. The seat map on Aerolopa shows 3 lavatories, 1 in the front and 2 in the middle of the cabin. https://www.aerolopa.com/af-359-2
Hopefully they don't block the one at the front...
SeatGuru shows three. One front and two back similar to before (a/k/a 787 or 777). Am I missing something? Have two J class flights this fall.
SeatGuru hasn't been updated in years. It's completely untrustworthy now.
What’s the rationale for them locking it? (Genuinely curious)
My guess is they keep it locked so only the crew can use it.
I see no difference between this and AF's new 777-300, except for the table, which is weird looking in their 777 bird.
Table is much bigger, the one on the 777 is too small, bigger screen as well (17,3 to 20 "), and the little tablet to control everything. the main issue for me was the small tray table which is fixed.