I went on British Airways' Airbus A320 planes before and after a major transformation. See how the old and new compare.
Pete Syme,Taylor Rains
- British Airways is upgrading its short-haul cabins as part of a huge investment.
- I flew on one of the older A320s, then toured a brand-new A320neo at the Farnborough Airshow.
British Airways is spending $9 billion to lift its reputation after years of slumping popularity.
When the two-year program was announced at a March press event, the most prominent change was new seats for its short-haul aircraft.
I flew on one of its older A320s in May so I could envisage the upgrade. Then, I had the chance to see on board one of BA's brand-new A320neo jets at the Farnborough Airshow.
I was impressed by how modern it looks with a sleek navy-and-red color scheme. USB-C ports positioned on the seatbacks are also far more convenient than the old layout.
Here's what British Airways' old and new short-haul cabins are like.
In March, British Airways unveiled a new short-haul cabin as part of a $9 billion transformation.
It also announced an overhaul of its glitchy app and website, a new first-class on the Airbus A380, and free on-board WiFi for loyalty members.
A couple of months later, I flew on a British Airways A320 to experience the older cabin.
My flight from Edinburgh to London was definitely better than a budget airline, but the plane's interior felt dated.
And at last month's Farnborough Airshow, I went on board one of BA's brand-new Airbus A320neos.
2024 was the British flag carrier's first time exhibiting at the Farnborough Airshow.
Stepping on board, I could smell the new leather.
This jet only entered service on July 19 — three days before the airshow started.
In business class, or Club Europe, there are new tables in the middle seats.
Most European airlines have this setup for short-haul business class. There's slightly more legroom, but the main benefit is the soft product with complimentary food and drinks.
US airlines are starting to take note of this, like Spirit's upcoming "Go Comfy" option.
I thought the old cabin's all-black seats looked dull.
Maintaining dark colors on the new cabin means it's likely to age better than bright seats.
The new navy seats with red accents provide a needed dash of color.
It looked far more up-to-date, especially with the chevron pattern.
There was a small improvement in terms of legroom ...
... The new seatbacks have some more space carved out beneath the tray table.
It's not hugely noticeable, but it adds to the comfort.
There are also conveniently placed USB-A and USB-C ports.
Since iPhones now come with USB-C charging cables, these newer ports are becoming more common — improving the passenger experience.
I was especially pleased with this small change from the old A320.
It might seem a minor detail, but the old A320's USB-A ports are between the seats and near the floor.
During my flight, it was a bit irritating when my neighbor had to bend down and lean over to charge his phone. It also looked uncomfortable.
The headrests slide up and down as well as folding in at the sides.
This feature makes a return from the current cabin.
Overall, I was impressed and I'm looking forward to hopefully experiencing the new version in flight.
Having been on board, it made me more willing to pay extra to fly short-haul with BA instead of a budget airline, although there aren't many jets with the new cabin yet.
A handful of A320neos with the new cabins are already flying, but expect more soon.
Based on data from Ch-aviation, there are five active A320neos with the new cabin and another 14 on order. The next one is scheduled for delivery in September.
Being from the UK, it makes me happy to see the flag carrier making improvements.
British Airways was named the world's best airline by Skytrax in 2006, but it hasn't reached the same heights since.
Modernization will also come from retrofitting new business-class suites on the Airbus A380.
The new seats are a more tangible improvement, but smaller things like a new app show there's more to come from the $9 billion plan.
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