Virgin Atlantic has just announced plans to update the cabins of its Boeing 787-9s, which has to be one of the most overdue cabin overhauls out there, at least among reputable airlines. Separately, the Heathrow-based SkyTeam carrier has also revealed it will introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi.
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Virgin Atlantic plans Boeing 787 cabin refreshes
Virgin Atlantic will be fully overhauling the cabins of its fleet of 17 Boeing 787-9s. With this project, we’ll see all classes of service full redesigned, with a completely new layout. In terms of the configuration, the plane will go from having 258 seats to having just 227 seats, representing a capacity reduction of 31 seats.
Here’s how the layout will be changed:
- Business class (Upper Class) capacity will increase from 31 seats to 44 seats
- Premium economy (Premium) capacity will increase from 35 seats to 56 seats
- Economy capacity will decrease from 192 seats to 127 seats
The plan is for the new cabin design to be inspired by the Airbus A330-900neo fleet, so you can expect seats across cabins to be pretty similar, perhaps with some slightly upgraded tech (given how quickly technology changes).
In Upper Class, Virgin Atlantic’s A330neos have Vantage XL seats, which are staggered seats in a 1-2-1 layout.
Eight of the 44 seats will also be Retreat Suites, which are the front row business class seats featuring a bit more room, at an extra cost.
Virgin Atlantic is a lovely airline in general, though there’s no denying that the Dreamliners are not nearly as nice as the A330neos and A350s, and it’s also the carrier’s single most common aircraft type.
Virgin Atlantic’s 787s have herringbone seats in business class. These were cutting edge a couple of decades ago, but at this point, simply aren’t competitive.
Virgin Atlantic’s 787s are an average of 10 years old, with the first jet having joined the fleet in 2014. Even then, Virgin Atlantic’s herringbone business class was already quite outdated. But even now, those planes are still flying.
It’s interesting to see that Virgin Atlantic isn’t just updating these cabins to introduce new seats, but is also becoming significantly more premium in terms of the layout of the plane. That’s hardly surprising, and reflects a larger industry shift.
For what it’s worth, Virgin Atlantic has 10 more A330neos on order, and the airline has also announced that those will have a more premium layout, with 48 business class seats, 56 premium economy seats, and 128 economy seats (compared to 32, 46, and 184 seats, respectively).
We’ll have to patient for these new cabins, though
Virgin Atlantic updating its Boeing 787 cabins is exciting news, but when will it happen? Well, unfortunately we’re going to have to be patient. The project will only start in 2028, and is expected to be completed by 2030.
So expect that it’ll be around three years until the first of these reconfigured jets is flying, which is quite some time to wait.
On the one hand, that timeline isn’t too surprising, given current supply chain constraints, and I imagine that just reflects the lead time required. On the other hand, it’s frustrating that Virgin Atlantic has waited so long to make a decision, since virtually everyone has agreed for years that these cabins needed an update.
I guess Virgin Atlantic maybe wasn’t in a financial position to plan for its long term future a few years back, as the airline really struggled coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. I know at one point, the airline was also deciding how many of its Boeing 787s to keep long term. With the planes only getting new cabins by 2030, I think it’s safe to say that the planes are around to stay.
Bottom line
Virgin Atlantic will be refurbishing the cabins of its Boeing 787s, in a project that’s going to start in 2028 and wrap up in 2030. With this, we’ll see the airline introduce new seats, based on the Airbus A330neo cabins.
Not only will the cabin feel fresher, but it’ll also be a lot more premium, as Virgin Atlantic is massively increasing the size of its business class and premium economy cabins.
I’m happy to see this announcement, but I’ll be even happier over five years down the road, when the project is actually complete. 😉
What do you make of Virgin Atlantic’s plans for its Dreamliner fleet?
VS undoubtedly got good lease renewal rates on the 787s but also is going with some of the most premium configurations on the 787-9 and A330NEOs which should put pressure on premium cabin fares to/from LHR.
I just talked w/ a friend who flew VS to LHR on their 35K and back on DL's 339 and they preferred the DL seat.
It will be interesting to see what DL comes up on for a new seat on its 35Ks which could be the basis for the 330CEO retrofits.
What a bizarre comparison, considering Virgin and Delta use the same exact seat on the A330neos, except Virgin's is nicer with things like wireless charging, Bluetooth audio, nicer finishes.
although DL and VS use same platform on their 339s, I simply relayed a person's preference. They did not fly VS' 339; they flew their 35K.
Just like everything else that is an opinion, it is theirs. including perception of finishes.
and DL is adding wireless charging to the seats on its new 350s which is the same platform - the Vantage XL - they have used since they introduced the 350.
as Ben...
although DL and VS use same platform on their 339s, I simply relayed a person's preference. They did not fly VS' 339; they flew their 35K.
Just like everything else that is an opinion, it is theirs. including perception of finishes.
and DL is adding wireless charging to the seats on its new 350s which is the same platform - the Vantage XL - they have used since they introduced the 350.
as Ben notes, updating technology is easier than the seat platform which is typically a 10 year investment for airlines
The VS351 seat is not wearing well, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them getting the A339 seating in time. VS already reupholstered the worst seats but they will need doing every few years, you can clearly see spot repairs to the shell as well and the table mechanisms are also glitching.
Redacted - the 787 bar is being removed. It's not in the press release but I was with Shai tonight at the London event and it has to go to fit in the extra Upper Class seats.
Whilst Virgin is officially saying that 14 787s will remain in the fleet, it seems they have the flexibility to keep more if demand and/or slots and/or 330neo delivery delays require it.
“They took the bar! The whole $&@?!$& bar!”
Branson lied!! He said they were keeping the bar.
Brilliant news... selfishly I wish VS had decided to keep the A330 at SEA for a couple more years while waiting these 787 renovations, but sadly that is not the case.
It's okay though. Delta One lounge access will tide me over until then.
About time but 2028 is a long lead in time and a lot can change, it’s making great PR for sure what with the other announcements today, let’s hope they can deliver.
Couldn't care less about the herringbone. Honestly speaking, I doubt most other premium fliers do either.
Biggest complaint with the seat that I've seen (and personally share) is the fact that you have to get up and manually turn them down, or have the staff do it for you. By the time you get to lay down, you're not even sleepy anymore. Same problem on Singapore's longhaul aircraft.
I don't see that as a problem, having flown SQ several times. Normal people get up to use the toilet, a perfect time to put the seat down. The layout is just weird with no window views, no privacy and limited width. Pretty much anything else out there is better.
I agree. I hate the lack of window view and the lack of privacy.
Actually, some of us have not experienced the same difficulties I’Synn. SQ A380 Suits have been one of our favourite rides to SIN.
@ImmortalSynn, that is part of the Herringbone critique though. It's not just the slim space, it's the overall seat design.
I hope they keep the bar and not replace it with the crappy "lounge" that the A350 has.
I think VS publicly admitted getting rid of the bar was a mistake in hindsight, right?
did they? not aware of that. I mean, it wouldn't surprise me. I flew their A350 and 787 back to back. I found the new "lounge" space to be such a dud compared to the bar. There was nothing that made you want to go there and hang out.
Add to that the fact that the new A350 seat wasn't as comfy and I hoped it'd be, especially in bed mode. I went in expecting to like the A350 experience more ended up liking the 787 experience a lot more, even with the sub-par seat.