Air France, goodbye old business class. New suite takes flight to New York.

January 20, 2023, a few months behind schedule, Air France's first Boeing 777-300 ER equipped with the latest long-haul cabins will take off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to New York-JFK. Named "Fontainebleau," this plane will then serve Rio de Janeiro airport in Brazil from Jan. 21 and Dakar in Senegal from Jan. 22.

The ongoing refurbishment of the 12 Boeing 777-300 ERs in Air France's long-haul fleet will enable the airline to gradually offer more flights equipped with these new cabins to these first three destinations during the winter season, and then to expand this network during the winter season. year. The restyling of the fleet will be completed by the end of 2023, and at the same time the few aircraft that are not yet equipped with wi-fi will also receive this service.

The renovation of these cabins thus eliminates the old 2-3-2 configuration found on aircraft used mainly to tourist destinations, I for example I flew aboard these planes to Bangkok recently.

To understand the difference between the two cabins, just play with your mouse over this photo comparing the two Air France business classes.

What planes will have these cabins

Air France's long-haul fleet consists of several models and this cabin will be installed only on the 777/300er to date there are 12 such aircraft in the fleet and they are easy to spot because they are the only 777/300s in service that are not equipped with the first-class cabin.

To tell if the flight will be operated with this new cabin just see the configuration, if there are 4 seats per row it is the new one, otherwise it is the old one with 7 seats.

In fact, the premiere is currently present only aboard the 777/300 set up in 4 classes, while these planes do not have the most exclusive cabin, and that accommodates only 4 passengers per flight and also soon to be renovated.

The new business class

In the Business cabin outfitted with 48 seats, while there were 42 seats in the previous configuration, the airline's iconic, completely redesigned seat features even more enveloping curves and extra comfort. The design of this chair is based on the 3 "Fs"-Full Flat, meaning the seat turns into a real bed almost two meters long, Full Access, which allows all passengers direct access to the aisle, and Full Privacy, which provides maximum privacy. 

The presence of the sliding door allows passengers to create a totally private space, out of sight of other passengers in the cabin. To create a greater sense of privacy for passengers traveling together, the seats in the center of the cabin now have a center panel that can be lowered by pressing it down, creating a convivial space in which to make the most of flying together.

When customers board the plane, they are greeted by a backlit winged seahorse, a sign of how even the small details have been taken care of. The seat padding adds softness and a cozy feeling. Wool, brushed aluminum, and full-grain French leather are the noble, soft and natural materials chosen by Air France to make its seats.

Each seat is also embroidered with the company's distinctive red accent.

Premium Economy is also new

In the Premium Economy cabin (48 seats), Air France introduces its latest recliner model already available on its Airbus A350, further improving comfort. Each seat offers 96 cm of legroom. The seat cushions have been redesigned and the navy blue herringbone fabric adds additional softness.

The backrest reclines 124 degrees and has been widened to provide more privacy. A new audio headset with noise reduction is built into the seat and is easy to use at any time during flight. The seat also has USB A and C ports.

In economy new IFE and bluetooth

In the Economy cabin, which accommodates up to 273 passengers in the classic 3-4-3 configuration, the seats meet the highest standards of comfort on the market. Each seat has a wide 43-cm seat pitch, a 119-degree recline, and 79 cm of legroom. The backrest is ergonomic and offers reinforced lateral support. It is also equipped with a USB A port.

The seats in these two cabins feature a large 13.3-inch 4K high-definition screen with Bluetooth connection, ideal for enjoying more than 1,500 hours of on-demand entertainment with personal headphones.

In conclusion

Upgrading these cabins was essential for Air France, these 777/300s were far inferior to the company's offerings aboard the rest of the fleet. Now it will be interesting to see whether after the launch period they will be kept on tourist routes or used on more business routes as well.