Skift Take

Rather than simply playing catch-up, British Airways says the $9 billion investment over the next two years will help it leapfrog the competition.

Gordon Smith

Once known as ‘The World’s Favorite Airline’, British Airways has slipped down the rankings in recent years. Underinvestment and outsourcing have left the UK flag carrier on the back foot.

Keen to make amends and restore its position among the world’s leading airlines, BA is on the offensive.

The company says it is spending £7 billion ($8.9 billion) over the next two years to overhaul its operation and enhance the passenger experience.

The program spans more than 600 different modernization initiatives and is said to “invest in every part of the business.”

But what exactly is in the pipeline and when will travelers actually see the changes? Here are five key areas to watch:

1. New First Class and Short-Haul Seats

There are major seating developments on two fronts for British Airways. The changes that will benefit the most customers are new seats coming to the short-haul fleet. 

BA is rolling out new-look cabins for its upcoming deliveries of Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets. These typically fly on short and medium-haul flights within the UK, Europe, and North Africa.

The first eight planes with the new cabins will be delivered from May this year. Enhancements will be mad