British Airways to Deliver Significant Changes to its First Class Cabin as Part of its £6.5bn Investment

Dubai, UAE 12^th March 2019: British Airways is set to deliver significant changes to the onboard product and service in its First cabin as part of its £6.5bn investment for customers.

The new look and feel, set to take to the skies from March 31 will include new bedding, amenities and menus that would not look out of place in a revered five-star British hotel. 

The airline’s First customers will be offered super-soft, sophisticated new male and female loungewear designed exclusively by British fashion brand Temperley, London. The loungewear will be coupled with bespoke British Airways amenity bags, featuring Temperley’s “Star” design. The bags will be filled with products from No 1 British Skincare brand, ELEMIS, including products from the highly sought after ULTRA SMART PRO-COLLAGEN range*. The amenity kit contains the essentials to cleanse, revive and hydrate.

The airline’s chefs have also designed new delicious A La Carte menus that focus on fresh seasonal ingredients of British provenance. The new menus will be served on elegant bone china crockery, designed exclusively for the airline by high-end British tableware designer William Edwards. The new tableware will be accompanied by contemporary cutlery from Studio William.

The airline will also be introducing a new signature afternoon tea service, showcasing the great British tradition of high tea. The menu will include a selection sandwiches, delicate pastries and scones, as well as a wide range of tea infusions.

As part of the changes, British Airways is also investing in new Dartington glassware. Travellers will now be able to enjoy the airline’s fine wines and champagnes from sophisticated stemware, while soft drinks and spirits will be served from elegant cut-glass tumblers.

Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer Experience, said: “As part of our £6.5bn investment in customers, we’re changing parts of the travel experience in our First cabin. Our teams of designers, chefs and customer service experts have carefully thought through the details we know matter most to our customers.

“In this, our centenary year, we’ve sought out some of the best British designers and manufacturers to work with to ensure travelling in First with British Airways is an unforgettable experience.”

The airline’s First customers will benefit from an improved turndown service for the perfect night’s sleep, thanks to new luxurious 400 thread count bedding, accompanied by a foam fibre mattress topper. Customers will also receive a stylish new day blanket and bolster cushion.

And those wishing to relax and enjoy the 1,000 hours of programmes available on the in-flight entertainment channels, can do so through high performance headphones crafted by Meridian, the British Pioneers of High Resolution audio.  

British Airways’ First customers continue to have access to the airline’s exclusive First Wing at Heathrow Terminal 5. Re-designed and unveiled in 2017, the First Wing provides customers with a private check-in area leading through to dedicated security lanes, which grant customers direct access to British Airways’ prestigious First Lounge.

2019 is British Airways’ Centenary year. The airline is investing £6.5 billion for customers over five years, including new aircraft, new cabins, new catering, new lounges, WiFi, and new routes. 

* ULTRA SMART PRO-COLLAGEN is a new bespoke range of skincare that adapts to individual needs to preserve and promote younger looking, luminous skin.

Ladies amenity bags contain:

• Cleansing micellar facial wipe
• Soothing apricot facial wipe
• Pro-collagen rose mist
• Ultra smart pro-collagen matrix moisturiser
• Ultra smart pro-collagen eye cream
• Hydra-nourish lip balm
• Sea lavender and samphire hand cream
• Fortitude deodorant

Male amenity bags contain:

• Ultra smart pro-collagen eye cream
• Ultra smart pro-collagen matrix moisturiser
• Cleansing micellar facial wipe
• Skin soothe shave gel
• Fortitude deodorant
• Hydra-nourish lip balm

• The rollout of the airline’s First products will start on March 31 and will be complete by April 7
• First customers also have access to the airline’s Concorde Room in Terminal 5

About British Airways

British Airways is the UK's largest international airline offering 45 million customers a year quality, choice and convenience. Its principal place of business is London, with a significant presence at Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports. 

British Airways’ main home at Heathrow is Terminal 5, regularly voted the world's best airport terminal in international passenger surveys.

Operating one of the most extensive international scheduled airline route networks, together with its joint business agreement, codeshare and franchise partners, British Airways flies to more than 200 destinations in almost 80 countries, on a fleet of nearly 300 aircraft. The airline is investing £6.5bn over the next five years in new aircraft, new cabins, new lounges, new food and new technology - including industry-leading WiFi.

British Airways is a founding member of the airline alliance  one world, which serves some 1,000 destinations across the globe.

About British Airways 

• British Airways flies to more than 200 destinations across the world.
• British Airways offers an extensive range of carefully selected hotels, car hire and experiences in a wide range of worldwide destinations available to book with flights from ba.com/holidays.
• The airline is one of the world's largest international airlines carrying approximately 40 million passengers around the world every year. 
• The airline offers a choice of four cabins on the majority of its long-haul services.
• British Airways has launched its multi-million pound investment plan to benefit its customers with a focus on excellence in the premium cabins and more choice and quality for all.
• British Airways is investing £600m specifically in Club World, including outstanding catering and luxurious White Company bedding - plus, from 2019, a new seat with direct aisle access. At Heathrow a First Wing check-in area with direct security and lounge access has launched, and lounges around the airline’s network are to be revamped and improved.
• The Club Europe cabin has also been introduced on UK domestic services and all customers can look forward to the latest generation Wi-Fi across British Airways’ long-haul and short-haul fleets which is being introduced.
• British Airways operates the majority of flights from Terminal 5, its home at London Heathrow. This terminal is capable of handling 30 million customers a year and is the size of 50 football pitches.