Farewell to First (or almost). Revolution on Cathay's 777s: in goes the Business Aria Suite, out goes First Class
Make one less (or almost), for the names of those companies that still make available to their customers [...]
Cathay Pacific
Oneworld
HKG
Hong Kong
Make one less (or almost), for the names of Those airlines that still provide their customers with a First Class cabin.
In this article:
And the minus name is a heavy one in the world of commercial aviation: Cathay Pacific. The Hong Kong carrier has always been one of the benchmarks of traveling in style and elegance, and since 2020 One of only ten airlines in the world to boast the prestigious Skytrax 5-star rating.
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But let's start from the beginning. As many people know by now, Cathay will soon begin installing its brand new business class, called the Aria Suite.. First and foremost, Boeing 777-300ERs will receive it., which are the largest aircraft in the fleet and those that connect Hong Kong with major global hubs.
Twenty-one of the 38 Boeing 777-300ERs operated by the Hong Kong carrier boast a First Class cabin of only 6 seats in two rows, in a unique 1+1+1 configuration and with a huge 91cm seat that converts into a 206cm long bed. Behind, there are three more classes: a 53-seat Business, a 34-seat Premium Economy and a 201-seat Economy. In contrast, the other 777-300ERs have three cabins, with a 40-seat Business, a 32-seat Premium Economy and a 296-seat Economy.
The plan is similar to what the former Qatar Airways CEO announced a couple of years ago, before the Doha-based company retraced its steps and announced the development of a new booth at First: With the introduction of an even more luxurious version of its famous QSuites, the Doha-based carrier had announced a farewell to its First Class cabins.
And this will happen on Cathay's 777-300ERs: inside the Aria Suites, outside the First. The process, which will begin in months, will likely proceed starting with the 777-300ERs that do not have a First cabin on board, and then moving on to those that do.
Now, eliminating a product that is some 20 years old in favor of one that is brand new and described as one of the best in the world in its category (the Aria Suites) makes perfect sense. However, it should be considered that Cathay is developing a new First cabin (called Halo Suite) for its future 777-9s and at its Hong Kong hub has not one, but as many as two First Class lounges: The Pier e The Wing.
What, then, will become of these lounges and the loyal (and very profitable) passengers who now fly in that cabin with Cathay (and will likely fly there on future 777-9s)? Will they be left with no guests (the former) and no preferred cabin (the latter)?
In the carrier's intentions, probably not. In the sense that it is very likely that Cathay will remain with a small number of 777-300ERs with a cabin of First, with which to serve its most profitable routes, such as some of those to Europe and North America.
Whether or not it then ends up in an 'interregnum' without First Class available on any of its aircraft will depend on the delivery time for the 21 777-9s ordered by Boeing, which is expected to be long. The airplane is undergoing the most severe screening After the carnage of accidents that touched the 737 MAX e, four years after its first flight, it has still not been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Its in-service date has been pushed back several times, and now there is talk of the end of 2025 (but it is quite likely to go further). Cathay, moreover, is not a launch customer for the aircraft and therefore will not be the first carrier to receive it.
Deliveries could take place, if all goes smoothly, around mid-2026, or perhaps even in 2027. Will it, the old First, be able to survive that long again, bearing in mind that to keep it in service, Cathay will also have to keep the old Business in service on those aircraft instead of the fabulous Aria Suites?