Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bluesky and TikTok

The A380 will feature Business Class seats from manufacturer Thompson. Each seat will have direct aisle access and offer a seat width of 58 cm, a bed length of at least 2 meters, Bluetooth connectivity, and flexible partitions, providing both comfort and privacy.

Overall, the A380 will soon feature 68 new Business Class seats. In addition, with 8 First Class seats, 52 seats in Premium Economy, and 371 seats in Economy, the A380 is the largest long-haul aircraft in Lufthansa’s fleet.

Lufthansa can rely on an existing certification for this cabin upgrade, eliminating the need for a lengthy approval process. As a result, passengers will be able to enjoy the new Business Class on-board Lufthansa’s A380 within just a few weeks.

In addition to the extensive retrofit, routine maintenance work will also be carried out on the A380 aircraft during their stay at Elbe Flugzeugwerke, Dresden. After completing the checks, the first aircraft is scheduled to return to Munich in April this year and will be deployed in regular service. By mid-2027, all 8 Airbus A380s are expected to be fully retrofitted.

Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bluesky and TikTok

The new Premium BIZ seat is the first component of a comprehensive product and service campaign. Eurowings customers can look forward to further innovative offers over the course of the year, which should significantly improve the travel experience for all passengers on short and medium-haul routes – and not just for BIZclass passengers.

Eurowings is the first airline in Germany to offer premium seats in smaller, narrowbody aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo. The expanded Business Class offering will celebrate its premiere in November 2025, initially on the non-stop Berlin-Dubai route. The new seat concept will be bookable as of August via www.eurowings.com – as a higher-value option within the Eurowings BIZclass.

This means that Eurowings will now be offering several comfort zones on these medium-haul routes: In addition to the Premium BIZ Seat (eight seats per aircraft), passengers can also choose between BIZclass (free middle seat and more legroom) and the SMART (optional additional legroom) and BASIC economy fares.

Jens Bischof, CEO Eurowings: “With our new Premium BIZ seat, we offer business travellers and holidaymakers a completely new level of comfort on medium-haul flights. More privacy and a significantly enhanced feel-good atmosphere make longer flights noticeably more pleasant. We are thus setting a new standard in our market segment and clearly positioning Eurowings as Europe’s leading value airline.”

The market trials from the 2025/26 winter timetable onwards will also provide other airlines in the Lufthansa Group with important insights for the future configuration of new aircraft fleets. Eurowings itself is currently preparing the most extensive fleet renewal in its history: Beginning in 2027, Germany’s largest holiday airline will receive 40 brand-new Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft (range: 6,500 km).

Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bluesky and TikTok

“THE Room FX,” developed in partnership with French leading aircraft seat manufacturer Safran Seats and British design company Acumen, builds upon the success and design principles of the larger Boeing 777-300ER “THE Room” seat, offering an unmatched customer experience.

Beginning in 2026, ANA will gradually introduce “THE Room FX” private seats on major long-haul international routes. This rollout, alongside the current “THE Room” seats, offers passengers the highest level of comfort and space.

“At Safran Seats, we are proud to deepen our long-standing partnership with ANA through the launch of ‘THE Room FX’,” declares Victoria Foy, President & CEO of Safran Seats. “This new business class seat represents a step-change in comfort, versatility, and innovative design for the Boeing 787-9. By combining our engineering expertise with ANA’s commitment to passenger excellence and Acumen’s creative vision, we are setting new benchmarks in the world of premium air travel.”

“THE Room FX project is a result of a profound long-standing partnership between ANA, Acumen and Safran – shaped by years of trust, creativity and innovation,” said Ian Dryburgh, CEO and Founder of Acumen. “Building on the success and DNA of the ‘The Room’ B777, this next-generation suite elevates the flying experience with a rare balance of comfort, flexibility and elegant engineering. This is a refreshingly original and market leading Business Class product that we believe will exceed passengers’ expectations for many years to come.”

About “THE Room FX”

Building upon the development experience of “THE Room,” the private business class seat introduced on the Boeing 777-300ER in 2019, ANA and Acumen pioneered a new concept for mid-sized aircraft. After several years of development, from concept to commercialization, ANA, Acumen and Safran Seats collaborated to create this original seat exclusively for ANA.

High livability

The space has been reconfigured with a combination of design elements: thinner privacy door and walls, curved lines in the backrest area and an alternating front and rear facing seat arrangement. This design optimizes the Boeing 787’s cabin, creating a spatial experience comparable to a larger aircraft and achieving a world-class comfort level.

Functional seats

Significantly wider than the current※1 seat, this design features a pre-reclining function that transforms the backrest into a sofa-like configuration, allowing passengers to relax in a variety of positions similar to lounging on a living room sofa.

Additionally, the adjustable leg rests allow the sofa-like configuration to be converted into a bed to create a personalized space tailored to individual passenger preferences.

Functional improvements include a monitor 1.4 times larger than the current size※1, ample storage space, USB-C and wireless charging facilities and Bluetooth audio connectivity.

Sustainability

Thinner privacy cabin doors, backrests and seat-to-seat dividers contribute to a significant reduction in seat weight. Despite the spaciousness of the private cabin seat, its weight is comparable to the current Boeing 787-9 Business Class seat.

Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bluesky and TikTok

Natālija Kuzmina, VP Customer Experience & Insights: “Since the launch of our new upgrade service last year, we have seen a steady increase in Business Class passenger numbers. The service offers our customers greater flexibility in tailoring their travel experience and provides more passengers with access to premium options, while also enhancing our commercial performance. We are satisfied with our partnership with Plusgrade and look forward to expanding it with additional products in the future.”

The Business Class upgrade process is simple – seven days before the flight, passengers will receive an invitation email if an upgrade is available on their route. They can then place and submit a bid. No later than twelve hours before the flight, passengers will be notified if their bid has been accepted. Starting bids on selected routes begin at EUR 60, with higher starting prices applying to longer or high-demand routes. More details about the Business Class upgrade bidding service are available on airBaltic’s website.

The highest demand for the upgrade service has been observed on flights from Riga to Vienna (Austria), Paris (France), and Tallinn (Estonia), with bidding starting at EUR 85, EUR 95, and EUR 65 respectively.

Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bluesky and TikTok

SAS’ new European Business Class strengthens the airline’s competitive position and enhances the customer journey. It aims to attract even more regional and international premium travelers, reinforcing SAS’ position in the premium segment. The launch supports SAS’ long-term strategy and strengthens Copenhagen’s role as a global hub for Scandinavian and European connectivity, while also simplifying connections and offering a more cohesive experience for passengers traveling across multiple alliance airlines.

“Many of our comfort- and quality-focused travelers expect a clearly defined European Business Class that aligns with international standards,” says Paul Verhagen, Chief Commercial Officer at SAS. “While SAS Plus has provided an upgraded experience, it has lacked the recognition and clarity that travelers seek. With the reintroduction of European Business Class, we are ensuring that SAS offers the premium experience of a top European airline.”

Enhanced dining experience: A new Food & Beverage concept with a more premium and flexible dining experience including reusable premium tableware catering to the diverse needs of SAS Business Class travelers.
Dedicated cabin: A section in the front of the aircraft for Business Class travelers, separated with a curtain and overhead divider.
Blocked middle seats: Ensuring more space and privacy.
Priority treatment on the ground: Priority check-in, boarding and access to more lounges, ensuring a seamless premium travel experience from start to finish.

Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and Bluesky

The R7 seat variations combine ingenious design and generous space layouts with best-in-class comfort, featuring a unique Business Class Plus front row suite, jetlag prevention systems, active seating solutions for a truly individualized flight experience, as well as predictive maintenance technologies.

The R3 long-range Economy Class seat offers an improved living space for passengers, providing enhanced legroom and ergonomic support, while being about nearly 2 kilograms lighter than its predecessor

In addition, the R4 Premium Class seat showcases a lightweight design, reducing weight by up to 10% in the baseline configuration. Featuring the distinctive RECARO design language with a unique single-plate table, the R4 optimizes cabin space and passenger comfort with privacy features like backrest-mounted wings and personal stowage compartments.

Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and Bluesky

To design this mattress pad, Air France has partnered with Sofitel MY BED, Sofitel’s top-of-the-line bedding collection, universally recognized for its expertise and outstanding comfort. The two brands are committed to elegantly showcasing French craftsmanship, promising customers restful nights in plush seats as they recline to become fully flat.

Especially created for the airline’s Business class customers, this mattress pad has been carefully crafted and designed to make passengers feel like they’re floating on a cloud. It can be rolled out on the seat for an extra layer of comfort, creating a true cocoon of well-being that offers the ideal conditions for relaxation from takeoff to landing, and in any seat position.

Placed on each seat before boarding, alongside a pillow, blanket, and slippers, the mattress pad features a shade of gray—one of the signature colors of the Business cabin. It seamlessly blends with the cabin’s overall design and comfort elements, preserving the refined and elegant ambiance on board.

Easy to use, simply position the fitted end of the mattress pad over the seat headrest, and smooth it down against the backrest and seat cushion. The mattress pad has carefully positioned notches that adapt to all Business seats and seat belts across all aircraft types (Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A330, Airbus A350). It can be used during the different flight phases, from takeoff to landing, in complete safety. After each flight, it is carefully cleaned and repackaged, for maximum hygiene.

This new accessory will be progressively rolled out on board starting in July 2025. By the end of the year, it will be available on all the airline’s long-haul flights, regardless of departure time or flight duration, ensuring absolute comfort both day and night.

In the Business cabin, Air France offers seats that transform into fully flat beds measuring almost two meters long, with direct aisle access. The new seats, available on a selection of Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350 aircraft, offer optimum privacy. A new sliding door makes for a private space, secluded from the rest of the cabin.

When travelling with a companion, the seats in the middle of the cabin are equipped with a central partition that can easily be lowered, providing plenty of space to enjoy the journey together. The seat also features a large, anti-glare 4K HD screen, noise-reducing headphones, a Bluetooth connection for personal headphones, and several electric sockets. A Wi-Fi connection allows passengers to stay connected throughout the flight.

Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and Bluesky

A wide selection of food and snacks will be offered, along with premium alcoholic beverages, and hot and cold refreshments.  The facility features modern restrooms with showers, high-speed Wi-Fi, relaxation areas, dedicated workspaces, and a specially designed children’s play area.

“Our first-ever lounge to open outside of Portugal brings a little bit of Portugal to life in Miami,” said Sofia Lufinha, TAP’s Chief Customer Officer.  “Here, with all the comforts of a new business class lounge, our guests may also enjoy favorite foods and refreshments, including cheeses and pastries such as pastéis de nata, Portuguese red wine, vinho verde and port wine.  It’s all part of TAP’s focus to deliver the most comfortable travel experience for our passengers.”

The lounge is available for TAP, Avianca and Star Alliance passengers traveling in First and Business Class, TAP Miles&Go Navigator and Gold members, as well as Star Alliance eligible Gold Members and LifeMiles eligible Gold and Diamond members. The lounge also accepts Priority Pass and one day passes may be purchased, subject to availability and capacity.

Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and Bluesky

“Understanding that our Business Class passengers often need to use their time more efficiently, we decided to create a separate check-in zone, fully tailored to modern lifestyle trends. This way, their customer experience will be different from the very start. We are confident that the new service will be appreciated by our Business Class passengers,” said Jiri Marek, Air Serbia’s CEO.

In the coming period, Air Serbia will continue improving its services and expanding its network of destinations in line with the needs of its passengers.

Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok and Bluesky

It combines local cuisine and European influences. Great importance is attached to selected, high-quality ingredients from all over Europe. The new meals were created jointly by celebrity chef Johann Lafer, Lufthansa’s culinary teams and catering partner Gate Gourmet.

On routes with a flight time of around two hours, Lufthansa passengers will in future be able to choose from a wider range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian cold dishes. On long routes with a flight time of three hours or more, travelers will be able to choose between three hot dishes instead of the previous two.

Anyone who wants to put together their menu before the flight can do so free of charge and conveniently from home with “Pre-Select” – pre-ordering from a selection of up to nine hot dishes is possible for flights lasting more than two hours. This allows guests to enjoy a wider choice of meals and at the same time supports optimized planning, which promotes a more sustainable use of food. The more targeted loading reduces overstocking and thus the disposal of food.