In 2024, Cathay Pacific formally launched its new business class product, which is an exciting development for the carrier. As is the case with so many airline products nowadays, the debut was delayed significantly, and the rollout also isn’t going quite as fast as initially hoped.
Still, there’s positive momentum, and this product has just made its long haul debut. In this post, I’d like to cover all the details of the product, including on which flights you’ll find it.
In this post:
New Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 business class details
Hong Kong-based oneworld member Cathay Pacific is introducing a new business class throughout its Boeing 777-300ER fleet, and the product is known as Aria Suite. Below you can see a promotional video about the product, plus a virtual tour.
What can you expect from Cathay Pacific’s new Aria Suite business class?
- These are reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration
- The seats have privacy doors, which is increasingly becoming the standard in business class
- The seats have great tech, including 24″ 4K entertainment screens that are in a fixed position, bluetooth audio, wireless charging, and some unique features, like a monitor showing which lavatories are occupied
- The seats have enclosed storage compartments
- The seats are a heavily customized version of the Collins Aerospace Elements seat, which is the latest and greatest reverse herringbone product; this debuted on Starlux’s Airbus A350-900s, though it’s also being installed on newly delivered Etihad Boeing 787-9s
- In terms of designing the seat details, this was done in partnership with JPA Design, which has been a partner of the airline for a long time; so the general style of the seat should look familiar, given how consistent Cathay Pacific is
Cathay Pacific is primarily first reconfiguring its three class Boeing 777-300ERs, and below you can see the updated seat map for the jets featuring the Aria Suite product. The airline is greatly boosting premium capacity as these planes are being reconfigured:
- Before being reconfigured, the three cabin 777-300ERs have 368 seats, including 40 business class seats, 32 premium economy seats, and 296 economy seats
- After being reconfigured, the three cabin 777-300ERs have 361 seats, including 45 business class seats, 48 premium economy seats, and 268 economy seats
Losing 28 economy seats in order to gain five business class seats and 16 premium economy seats is quite a deal! 😉
Cathay Pacific Aria Suite routes & flights
So far, Cathay Pacific offers the Aria Suite product on two Boeing 777-300ERs, with the registration codes B-KPO and B-KPF. The third jet, with the registration code B-KQH, is expected to enter service soon.
The airline is hoping to reconfigure one jet per month, though initial reports suggest that the project is a bit delayed, due to some kinks being worked out.
The Aria Suite product has finally made its long haul debut, on the following flight between Hong Kong (HKG) and London (LHR):
CX255 Hong Kong to London departing 11:35PM arriving 6:20AM (+1 day)
CX250 London to Hong Kong departing 5:50PM arriving 2:35PM (+1 day)
You’ll want to check the seat map, because currently it’s not operated by the new jet every day, though that should change within the next week.
On top of that, you’ll find the Aria Suite product on select intra-Asia routes. The product has been available to several destinations, with Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Taipei (TPE) being the two most frequent destinations for the product at the moment.
Will other Cathay Pacific aircraft get these new seats?
Keep in mind that Cathay Pacific was initially intending to introduce all-new premium cabins on its Boeing 777-9s, of which the airline has 21 on order. However, that aircraft has been delayed by at least six years due to certification issues, from 2020 to 2026 (or later).
Presumably Cathay Pacific decided it was time to refresh its cabins even before those planes enter service. I would assume that Cathay Pacific intends to introduce the same product on 777-9s, since I can’t imagine the airline would introduce two separate long haul business class products just a couple of years apart.
So far there’s no indication of Cathay Pacific refreshing its Airbus A350s with the same product, though I imagine that could come at some point as well. Cathay Pacific hopes to finish reconfiguring its existing 777s by the end of 2027.
What about Cathay Pacific first class?
Some of Cathay Pacific’s Boeing 777-300ERs feature a first class cabin. This consists of six seats, spread across two rows in a 1-1-1 configuration. While this isn’t the world’s most private first class, it is one of my favorites.
With Cathay Pacific introducing a new business class product on 777s, what about first class? Well, Cathay Pacific is developing a new first class seat, which is rumored to be named Halo Suite. However, this will only be introduced on Boeing 777-9s in 2026 and beyond, so there are no plans for this to make its debut on existing 777s.
As a matter of fact, Cathay Pacific intends to remove first class from its 777s, as the jets are reconfigured with the new cabins. So eventually no 777-300ERs will feature first class, while all 777-9s will feature first class.
I imagine that Cathay Pacific will first try to reconfigure its three cabin 777s, before reconfiguring the ones with four cabins. Now, it remains to be seen how this timeline works out, especially with continued delays on the 777-9.
Bottom line
Cathay Pacific has introduced a new business class product on its Boeing 777-300ERs, known as Aria Suite. You can expect new reverse herringbone seats with privacy doors and great tech, based on the Collins Aerospace Elements platform. I’d assume that this is the same product that will eventually be installed on Boeing 777-9s.
It’s great to see this product finally introduced, and even making its long haul debut. You’ll now find the jet flying between Hong Kong and London, in addition to operating in some short haul markets.
I’m impressed by this premium product investment, given what a tough few years Cathay Pacific has had! Obviously the airline is committed to offering a quality product, and that’s always exciting to see.
What do you make of Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite business class?
Good afternoon,
Would you happen to know when they will start flying Aria to JFK to HKG?
Thanks
At 4:26:23 in the video link you can see the Cathay Pacific 777-300ER B-KPE landing with large Cathay Pacific titles. I would have thought the new large fonts had something to do with the aircraft with the new Aria Suite. However this one is not part of the three registrations you provided. So then is this their new livery?
https://www.youtube.com/live/ZY7g_-W2v1g?feature=shared
I'm more interested in the seat width than the size of the video screen. What is the seat width and pitch?
Economy looks very tight with 10 abrest. I flew that once on a 777 and never again!
Regarding the Aria suites, I find the design of the BA Club Suites more appealing.
The seats are an improvement but only 3 bathrooms for 45 passengers? Ouch.
I don't want to glaze anything from the Middle East, but it's astonishing how it's been 8 years since the Qsuites launched and only ANA 6 years ago made anything that matched or surpassed it while all these airlines upgrading their biz class like how Apple upgrade their iPhones *cough* Emirates...
Leave it to CX to come late for the party...By the time their Aria project is complete, those seats would already be out of style and be one of the oldest in the industry like their current J/F seats...They should have started this years ago when the rest did. Kudos though for having some of the best "Western-sized" hard products!...
As I've said below, this can very well be just an interim solution specifically for the 77W until something (r)evolutionary comes along whenever that may be.
CX tends to refresh their cabins around the 10-year mark. And while I agree they could've started the procurement process for the seats at the end of the last decade, I'd say they did not foresee the delays on the 779, and no one certainly saw the impact COVID...
As I've said below, this can very well be just an interim solution specifically for the 77W until something (r)evolutionary comes along whenever that may be.
CX tends to refresh their cabins around the 10-year mark. And while I agree they could've started the procurement process for the seats at the end of the last decade, I'd say they did not foresee the delays on the 779, and no one certainly saw the impact COVID would have on the industry, especially with disruptions to supply chains let alone travel demand.
Sorry Cathay, but there is nothing in your F or J configuration which will temp the ‘dragon’ or me to spend our hard earned upon this product.
LHR to Oz via SIN, with other carriers, will remain our preferred route.
An uninspiring video does nothing to promote the new suite either.
lol ok enjoy QF or BA then
The CX F lounges will forever remain a favourite
Door to door Q Suite via Doha is my preference. The timings out of Melbourne work quite well too, but harder if you're going to guarantee to Sydney
I might give this a go on the way to Sydney if it's price competitive next time I fly the route
"Now, it remains to be seen how this timeline works out, especially with continued delays on the 777-9.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see this strategy shift, especially with continued delivery delays on the 777-9."
Pretty much the same sentence twice. I guess that's what happens when you update an older article with new info. I've also noticed some rough transitions in the article due to this but I'll let it go.
I wouldn't be surprised if this current iteration of the Aria Suites is just an interim solution until the next evolution comes whatever and whenever that may be.
As the A350 seats are still a decent product, what they could do is refresh the covers and trim to match the Aria product the same way they refreshed the 744 and A343 seats more than a decade ago right before they got retired.
As for...
I wouldn't be surprised if this current iteration of the Aria Suites is just an interim solution until the next evolution comes whatever and whenever that may be.
As the A350 seats are still a decent product, what they could do is refresh the covers and trim to match the Aria product the same way they refreshed the 744 and A343 seats more than a decade ago right before they got retired.
As for the A330s, since they plan to have one product across its fleet, I wouldn't be surprised if they go with a reverse herringbone product as well just for the sake of consistency. The "privacy shield' on the current Cirrus product would be perfect on the A330 opposed to a door.