British Airways unveils A380 First, designed by tangerine
British Airways has revealed the all-new cabins for its retrofitted Airbus A380 fleet, led by a First suite designed by tangerine.
On 5 October 2026, British Airways unveiled new First, Club Suite, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller cabins for its 12 A380s, part of its multi-billion-pound investment in customer experience. At the front of the aircraft sit 12 First suites, arranged 1-2-1 across three rows on the lower deck. The first completed aircraft is expected to enter service in the coming months, with the rest of the fleet following through to 2028.
A suite that feels like a modern luxury hotel
tangerine worked with British Airways, Collins Aerospace and British partners to create the airline’s next-generation First seat. Our brief covered the full journey, from vision setting and layout definition through industrial design, CMF, UI/UX, prototyping and design for manufacture.
The result is a suite built around space, privacy and home comforts:
- Savile Row-inspired linings: hidden stowage in red leather, finished with crisp white stitching
- A feature lamp inspired by Concorde, whose curved form nods to the aircraft’s iconic shape
- Sustainably sourced Muirhead leather on the headrest and armrest, set against soft suede walls
- Seat controls that feel like playing the keys of a Steinway, paired with an intuitive touch interface
- Curved doors that open flush with the walls, so the suite feels generous rather than boxy
- A motorised floor-to-ceiling central panel that retracts to create a shared space for companions
Soft, rich and generous, not boxy
Our research found that many first-class suites feel boxy, the opposite of luxury hospitality, which is soft, rich and generous. So we looked beyond aviation to contemporary luxury hotels, and even consulted theatre lighting experts on the most flattering light.
The details carry a quiet British signature. Sustainably sourced Muirhead leather lines the headrest and armrest, alongside suede walls. Hidden red leather stowage with white stitching nods to Savile Row tailoring. The seat controls are designed to feel like playing the keys of a Steinway, and curved forms echo Concorde’s S-shaped heritage.
Every detail was carefully considered rather than bold or brash. The suite looks right and works effortlessly, but beneath the surface sit countless small refinements.
Part of BA’s biggest A380 transformation
The retrofit also brings a refreshed Club Suite across the whole upper deck, now the world’s largest business class cabin at 106 seats, and a World Traveller Plus cabin that grows to 84 seats. Each of the 12 aircraft will follow the first at intervals of six to eight weeks.
“We’re incredibly proud of our long history of bringing groundbreaking products to British Airways. In 1998 we designed the first lie-flat bed in business class, a seat that changed long-haul travel for good. Nearly three decades on, designing BA’s new First from the ground up, launching into service in 2027, is the latest chapter in that story.” Matt Round, CEO, tangerine
We’re proud to see our First suite take its place on BA’s flagship aircraft.
Read the full British Airways First case study to see how we designed it.