British Airways’ latest short-haul Airbus A321neo aircraft is now in service with all-new UK-made leather economy and business seats
G-TNED has taken off on a a journey of comfort and progress for British Airways passengers.
Meet the flag carrier’s newest Airbus A321neo jet – the future of short-haul trips as part of its wide-ranging £7billion transformation plan.
Why so? Box-fresh registration G-TNED, which was delivered from the Airbus factory in Hamburg just three weeks ago, features BA’s new look for 2024 and beyond, and with a very British Isles flavour.
The new seats – in deep navy with an eye-catching touches of red and white – are made by Collins Aerospace in Northern Ireland with Scottish leather from Muirhead of Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, and dress covers by Sabeti Wain Aerospace of High Wycombe, Hertfordshire.
For the aircraft cabin, there are bulkhead features by Manchester’s Airline Services Interiors and also from across the Irish Sea, curtains and carpets by Botany Weaving of Dublin.
G-TNED is of course just one plane out of a fleet of 240-plus but it’s a welcome upgrade as BA does have a legacy of old equipment: some short haul aircraft are ‘teenagers’ and on long you can be on jets that are well into their 20s.
So what’s it like? I flew to Rome in Club Europe (business) and back in economy and – ‘new plane smell’ aside, yes there really is one! – I was really impressed with the premium feel, comfy adjustable headrest and the overall look and the easily-reached USB-A & USB-C charging ports at eye level, not tucked down under the seat.
It’s the same seat in both cabins but the business pitch is 31-30in (the middle seat has a plush leather tray rather than a passenger) and economy pitch is 29in and there were no complaints from me for legroom at the ‘back of the bus’.
This is a lovely seat for a short-haul flight whether you are enjoying the delicious complimentary food and drink in business class or buying a bag of pretzels and a Diet Coke in economy. Even in economy it feels like you are getting a bit of an upgrade. Both seats can recline but, as per the unwritten rule of short-haul courtesy, I did not.
It’s quiet too, I was sat by on of the two fuel-efficient CFM LEAP-1A engines both ways and, apart from take-off and landing, it was barely discernible. Extra-large overhead bins seemed to swallow a lot of cabin bags.
And the cabin itself feels fresh and airy, with a touch of mood lighting and a more premium vibe.
As you’d expect, the service by the attentive cabin crew remains the typically BA polished and friendly and they serve a mighty fine cuppa as always – and we landed early on both flights.
And as BA’s Chief Customer Officer Calum Laming said on board before take-off at Heathrow Terminal 5: “It really is a British seat.”
British yes, but we look to our friends in Germany for seven more of these excellent state-of-the-art jets arriving soon.
To book BA flights see britishairways.com
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