How British Airways’ new Concorde-inspired aircraft compares to the Concorde

British Airways has unveiled a new First Suite that will be installed on its Airbus A380, targeting the airline’s most valuable transatlantic customers in the US

Inspired by Concorde’s design, the new suite offers an attractive mix of luxury and comfort. While subsonic flight takes longer, the new British Airways First will be far more comfortable than flying Concorde ever was.

In its announcement, the airline says the new First has been “carefully designed to convey the feel of a modern luxury hotel, coupled with home comforts and thoughtful British touches at 35,000 feet.”

London design firm Tangerine, which helped British Airways introduce the world’s first lie-flat business class seat in the 1990s, expertly designed the new A380 First Experience.

How do British Airways First and Concorde cabins compare?

The new private suite on the British Airways Airbus A380 First will feature a well-padded, 36.5-inch-wide seat, finished in a mix of Yorkshire wool and Scottish leather fabrics. The seat extends into a 79-inch long bed, ensuring a comfortable night’s sleep. In the suite, passengers can enjoy a selection of onboard films and programs on a 32-inch 4K television screen.

Concorde, on the other hand, was far more restrictive. Jennifer Coutts-Clay, author of “Jetliner Cabins,” who was the first woman ever named western U.S. operations and sales manager for British Airways and led the Concorde design program, notes in an article on Aircraft Interiors International: “ We’re talking about a cramped cabin: a 16-inch-wide aisle, 17-inch-wide seats, 37/38-inch seat pitch and fit-sized window panes just 4.5 inches in diameter.”

The supersonic aircraft’s narrow fuselage did not provide the same personal space as the subsonic superjumbo Airbus A380.

More privacy or companionship, whatever you like

British Airways has made good use of all the space and promoted a more modern feeling of exclusivity. For example, passengers in the new First Suites have a “Do Not Disturb” light that they can turn on by tapping the tablet suite controller. This allows flight attendants to know when they want to rest. Couples traveling together can book mid-cabin suites. The partition between each seat opens and the stowable tables provide a communal dining and entertaining experience.

Passengers can store their luggage in a personal overhead locker and hang their jackets in a personal closet, making it easier to settle in before the flight. Carrying luggage on the Concorde was impossible as space was limited and barely enough to fit a briefcase or handbag.

The iconic Concorde design remains in British Airways’ new first cabin

British Airways has taken on the challenge of giving a narrow cabin a luxurious feel through its choice of materials and this tradition continues. British Airways First’s new design elements, including ambient lighting that references the airline’s ‘speed brand’, follow the same attention to detail that went into the cabin design of the original Concorde. British Airways Chief Customer Officer Calum Laming said the new First “pushes the boundaries of comfort, luxury and modernity, taking customer preferences and expectations into account down to the smallest detail.”

A nice view, but not quite Concorde

British Airways’ new First Suite features blinds that can be opened or closed with a light tap on the suite control panel, as well as three windows per seat. On the Concorde the windows were so small that a window was installed in the cabins Tromp l’oeil Sloping windows to make windows appear larger. The strategy is not unique to Concorde. Although the A380’s exterior windows are significantly larger than those of the Concorde, the superjumbo also has a larger interior window pane.

However, on Concorde at an altitude of 60,000 feet, you could enjoy a remarkable view of the curvature of the Earth. In this regard, flying the Concorde is clearly the winner.

Service comes first

Concorde’s enduring appeal lay more in the speed of travel, the thrill of experiencing cutting-edge jet technology and the exclusivity of the experience than in the cabin itself. The white glove treatment accorded to its many celebrities and wealthy travelers who flew the Concorde began on the ground and continued in flight.

British Airways will offer passengers on the new Airbus A380 First similar ground-to-air support from First Service specialists. Private First Wing check-in is available at London Heathrow Terminal 5 with exclusive security screening. From there, passengers can go directly to the Concorde Room.

It’s as close as you can get to the Concorde flight and not nearly as close. However, you will have to wait a bit to get to know the new first cabin. British Airways has announced that it will launch the new First by mid-2026.