As interest in premium travel continues to surge following the COVID pandemic, and airlines seek to set new standards in luxury with their halo products, Airbus has decided to formally develop its ultra-luxe First Class Experience for the A350-1000 widebody, revealing that certain elements of the design are already being mulled by airlines.

One year after unveiling the concept, which rearranges the entire front of the A350-1000 to enable a 1-1-1 configuration including a center-section Master Suite that can accommodate two passengers and provide access to a dedicated lavatory, Airbus has “stopped the studies” and is now “in the development phase” to deliver the First Class Experience, Airbus vice president of cabin marketing Ingo Wuggetzer said during this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.

Driving Airbus’ decision is, broadly, the clear momentum behind first class and, specifically, the fact that its A350-1000 is serving as a flagship aircraft for airlines or is increasingly positioned to do so as the venerable Airbus A380 double-decker’s footprint diminishes in the world fleet.

The market size for first class is stable, Wuggetzer said. But while there are generally fewer first class seats on board aircraft than pre-2021 — the average number has dropped from eight to five, according to Airbus — the seats are becoming more exclusive.

Moreover, there is now a “really hard” push in the market to differentiate first class from business-plus and regular business class products, noted Wuggetzer.

He pointed to the new first class cabins flying on A350 operators Japan Airlines, SWISS, and Lufthansa. Indeed, Lufthansa has just won a Red Dot Award for its Allegris first class, which features a center-section Suite Plus offering that can be used by couples or solo travelers, and is clearly proving to be an inspiration in the market.

“We push it further,” Wuggetzer said of Airbus’ decision to offer the First Class Experience option.

“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 reckons that this redefined first class can safely be called “first class-plus” or FC+. It’s probably fair to say that Etihad’s The Residence with ensuite shower room aboard the A380 fits this description as well.

Airbus started its design work for First Class Experience by studying trends on the ground.

“What do you want? Space. I think space is one of the big things that always represents first class. This space is big, yes, but it’s exclusive,” Wuggetzer said.

It is perhaps notable that the Airbus executive showed journalists the latest renderings for First Class Experience on a massive curved screen. It felt like a subtle nod to the sort of immersive experience that occupants can expect from the ‘digital windows’ provided by each suite’s 4K wraparound screens and integrated lighting.

Engineers customized the A350 ceiling to “get a bigger entrance” and maximized the floorspace to facilitate the first class footprint, he said. Lavatories, monuments and the access stairs to the Forward Crew Rest Compartment were moved to a new ‘Centre Module’ just behind Doors 1, opposite the cockpit door.

He admitted that the high degree of customization in First Class Experience is “an industrial challenge because numbers are low but we still have a very customized, complex product, with high-end quality, and it makes that journey seamless for the passengers.”

But there is method to the perceived complexity madness. For example, when passengers tuck into sleep, this new configuration ensures there will be less disturbance from the flight crew.

Modular elements within First Class Experience and a variety of configuration options will give airlines flexibility to create a unique offer.

At least five airlines including Air India are presently honing new first class designs for their forthcoming A350s, and elements of Airbus’ design could be adopted.

The first of these would enter service in 2030 and beyond. Other operators are in the “pre-sales” phase, Airbus said.

But as JAL, SWISS and Lufthansa enjoy rave reviews for their new first class cabins, Qantas and Singapore Airlines look to press new A350 first class cabins into service in 2027, and with five more airlines including Air India entering the customization phase for first class, Airbus has given operators a lot to chew on.

The airframer is optimistic about what the “strong movement” in first class will mean for this the most premium of premium cabins.

All photos of Airbus’ renderings, as shown on a massive curved screen at AIX 2026, were taken by Mary Kirby.