BA begins roll-out of new short haul cabins
British Airways has begun fitting newly-designed seats and cabin interiors for its short-haul European and domestic flights from Heathrow and Gatwick.
The roll-out starts this week on the first of the 95 Airbus short-haul aircraft and is expected to take 12 months.
The new charcoal grey leather seats are slimmer and ergonomically designed to allow BA to squeeze in extra seats for its economy cabins, Euro Traveller.
This, says the airline, will allow it to offer more low fares.
To celebrate the airline has launched a special offer of a million seats from £39 each way, as part of a return fare.
The new Euro Traveller chairs will have backs designed give more knee space for the customer behind and new eye-level seatback tablet-holders, which can also provide storage for magazines.
Meanwhile, Club Europe will retain its 2:2 configuration with the middle seat free.
Seats will be bridged with a new ‘central console’ table, giving passengers improved functional space.
"This table provides inlaid leather mats for drinks, snacks and personal devices, freeing up the main table for work or a meal," said BA.
BA is in discussions with Inmarsat about leading Europe in a new era of broadband in the air.
Starting with UK domestic routes, they intend to roll-out Europe’s first ground-based 4G broadband network.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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