British Airways starts new short-haul seat roll-out

British Airways has started rolling-out its new short-haul seating across 95 aircraft in its A320 fleet. As previously reported (see news, June 16), the main changes are that the new charcoal-grey leather seating is being installed in both Euro Traveller (economy) and Club Europe (business class), and with a consistent amount of leg room across both cabins. For Club Europe travellers that means a reduction in seat pitch — the distance between seats or, in effect, legroom — from 34 to 30 inches. This move allows BA to increase the number of seats as follows:

• A319s (33 aircraft) — 143 seats
• A320s (51 aircraft) — 168 seats
• A321s (11 aircraft) — 205 seats

Business Traveller today flew on the first reconfigured aircraft — an A320, registration G-EUYO, flying a 3.5-hour flight sector from London Heathrow Terminal 5 to Kiev, Ukraine and back again. To read a review of that flight, click here. The fleet upgrade will take 12 months, British Airways has said. To view large images of the new BA seats, click here. To read our forum thread on the new seating, click here. ba.com Tom Otley