Airbus re-engineers front of A350 for new “flagship” first class

HAMBURG — If you thought first class was a thing of the past, think again. After reveals and renders from airlines ranging from Qantas to JAL, Air France to British Airways, and the entry into service of the new Lufthansa Allegris first class cabin, each pushing a different boundary of certification, space and finishes, comes Airbus, rearranging the entire front of the aircraft to enable new configurations and more space.

“What we see in terms of a trend is clearly that first class is here to stay,” Airbus vice president of cabin marketing Ingo Wuggetzer tells Runway Girl Network. “After COVID, there have been some fears about them disappearing. No: we have a stable market for first class that is clearly focusing on trunk routes, the routes where we maybe don’t need so much first class, but they are trunk routes. They are very stable and even growing. That is a clear market signal that we get.”

Part of this market signal, of course, comes in the context of the airframes in which first class will fly. With the retirement of many A380s, and the delays to the 777X, the A350 is taking more of a role than many observers might have expected in airlines’ first class futures.

“We see a lot of airlines investing in new products, a lot of announcements recently in the market. Really, what happens as well in other industries is that the flagship is driving your brand, it is really pushing innovation, and usually then you roll it down and cascade it maybe also to other classes,” said Wuggetzer.

“I think that is an important brand element: for airlines to keep their high level passengers and inspire others to fly with [them], and that’s why they really have great solutions to enable the best service and product. What is interesting is that every airline is unique. They always have something that is very special, dedicated to them and stands for their brand, and this is a clear differentiator in competition.”

To enable this innovation, Airbus is offering a revised layout for the areas around doors 1 of the A350, relocating the forward crew rest stairs, enabling new lavatory positions — including a private lavatory option for the centre pair suite — and offering customisable premium monuments.

A combined double centre suite features wraparound screens to make up for the lack of windows, with more conventional high-walled individual suites on the outboard. 

A new entry space is also on offer. Image: Airbus

Yes, it’s a product that will likely never see an aircraft, but is instead intended to set expectations and aspirations within the bounds of the possible, so it’s notable what is and isn’t included.

The CMF and trim are a symphony in neutrals and all seem very feasible, with a large translucent sheet separating the living/dining area from the powder room and its inexplicably bonkers vertical record player, featuring the very latest of 1948 technology in the sky. 

It will be instructive to see how the translucent panel and wraparound screen fare if an airline tries to certify them. Image: Airbus

Structurally, it’s a large beige linen-effect two-seater sofa that faces a smaller two-seater loveseat. While seatbelts seemingly have no place in this mockup that to an extent waves a magic wand at reality, it’s interesting to note that the table only stretches to one and a half seats’ width of the sofas.

A record player in your powder room? Entirely feasible and worth demonstrating, your author writes with more than a hint of sarcasm. A sufficiently wide table for four people, though? An aircraft interiors impossibility!

The overall layout expands on what’s been seen before. Image: Airbus

Also notable is the fact that if you look carefully, Airbus’ concept suites’ walls don’t extend all the way to the customised A350 ceiling — and that’s telling, especially in the context of the depressurisation airflow issues that have plagued larger first class suites and even some business class mini-suites in recent years.

Note that even here, the walls do not extend to the ceiling. Image: Airbus

An option for an expanded forward lavatory, taking up what was closet space, is also on offer, with discussion at the show around the extent to which airlines are willing to make that closet versus larger lav tradeoff. 

Airbus used AR technology to demonstrate the new concept to airlines, suppliers and journalists at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.

Related Articles:

• Air France’s new Stelia first class: a paragon of elegant simplicity
• Delta One Lounge experience trumps First Class on A321neo
• British Airways reveals elegant new A380 first class suites
• Lufthansa starts fitting Allegris first class to initial A350
• Cathay can draw inspiration for new first class from iconic product
• JAL first class continues to shine despite delayed hard product

Featured image credited to John Walton

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