Airbus announced on May 28 that it has entered the development phase for its ultra-luxe First Class Experience on the A350-1000, with several airlines already considering elements of the new design. The announcement was made by Ingo Wuggetzer, Airbus vice president of cabin marketing, during this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
The First Class Experience concept rearranges the front section of the A350-1000 to enable a 1-1-1 configuration, including a center-section Master Suite designed for two passengers and featuring access to a dedicated lavatory. Wuggetzer said Airbus has “stopped the studies” and is now “in the development phase” to deliver this product. He cited growing momentum behind first class offerings and noted that while there are generally fewer first class seats than before 2021—an average drop from eight to five per aircraft—the seats themselves are becoming more exclusive.
“There is now a ‘really hard’ push in the market to differentiate first class from business-plus and regular business class products,” Wuggetzer said. He referenced new first class cabins on Japan Airlines, SWISS, and Lufthansa as examples of innovation in this segment. Lufthansa recently received a Red Dot Award for its Allegris first class suite, which offers flexible arrangements for couples or solo travelers.
Wuggetzer described Airbus’ approach as pushing boundaries further: “We have talked to a lot of customers who want the extra, the ultimate, and this is what we figured out is the future that we need to develop now.” He suggested that such redefined products could be called “first class-plus” or FC+, comparing them with Etihad’s The Residence aboard its A380s.
Design work began by analyzing trends outside aviation. Wuggetzer said space remains central: “What do you want? Space. I think space is one of the big things that always represents first class.” The new layout maximizes floorspace by relocating lavatories and crew rest access into a Centre Module behind Doors 1 near the cockpit. Customization remains an industrial challenge due to low production numbers but high complexity requirements.
At least five airlines—including Air India—are currently refining their own versions based on Airbus’ design concepts for upcoming A350 deliveries expected from 2030 onward. Other operators remain in pre-sales discussions as interest continues amid positive reviews for recent premium cabin launches.
