British Airways has confirmed that its B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, the first of which will arrive next year, will be fitted with its next generation First cabin.

The announcement makes BA the first European airline to install first class on a Dreamliner. China Southern was the first airline worldwide to have first on the Dreamliner.

The carrier’s current B787-8 is fitted with three cabins — Club World, World Traveller Plus and World Traveller.

But its forthcoming B787-9, which is slightly larger and can fly longer sectors, will with the addition of First have a four-class configuration.

BA B787-9 First seat number

Details of the cabin will not be revealed until the aircraft’s arrival next year.

Frank van der Post, BA’s managing director of brands and customer experience, said: “Suffice to say immense attention has been paid to developing our award-winning First cabin, ensuring our signature style is maintained.

“We’ve also concentrated on the materials and technology used, the space around the seat and the comfort of the bed.”

He added: “We introduced an updated First cabin on the A380 when we launched that in September, which offers customers 30 per cent more personal space and 60 per cent more personal stowage and we’re getting great feedback.

“The new cabin on the 787-900 is a further development, which we think our customers will love. It will feel exceptionally elegant and beautifully British — exactly what our customers ask of us.”

BA B787-9 First table

BA has 24 Dreamliners on order – eight B787-8s and 16 B787-9s. Four of the B787-8s have already been delivered.

Last year, the airline’s parent company IAG confirmed that it was converting a further 18 existing B787s options into firm orders, taking the total to 42 (see news, April 2013).

To read a review of Club World on BA’s B787-8 click here.

ba.com