Air France has revealed its new first-class cabin, La Première suite, a fully modular design the airline says brings a new level of flexibility and privacy to the skies. Most notably, the suite features an armchair and a chaise lounge that transforms into a full-length bed.
Spanning nearly 3.5 square metres, the suite provides a 25% increase in space compared to the airline’s current first-class cabin.
Each suite is enveloped in a thick mesh curtain, creating a private and cosy cocoon. The side suites, unique to Air France, boast five portholes, bathing the space in natural light.
For those travelling together, the central suites feature a full-height electric sliding partition, ensuring privacy and connection.
The armchair, adorned with a leather headrest embossed with Air France’s winged seahorse, adjusts to each individual’s body shape, while an adjoining console and table provide a workspace or dining area.
A blend of French elegance and contemporary style, the suite incorporates materials like full-grain leather and plush wool, complemented by sleek metallic details.
To maximise the sense of space, Air France has replaced traditional overhead luggage compartments with floor-mounted storage. A large sliding drawer accommodates up to two cabin suitcases, while a second drawer beneath the chaise lounge provides space for shoes.
A niche with a backlit mirror near the seat provides a space for personal belongings, while the suite also boasts a separate cloakroom.
The suite’s five portholes bathe the space in natural light, while electric blinds – available in translucent or blackout options – allow passengers to control the amount of light entering the space.
The lighting system, featuring two lamps adorned with AF’s seahorse design, offers wall and floor lighting, while ambient lighting accompanies each phase of the flight.
High-tech highlights
Meanwhile, passengers will enjoy two 32-inch 4K entertainment screens, noise-cancelling headphones, Bluetooth connectivity and wireless device charging. In addition, a touchscreen tablet will also provide control over the suite’s features, allowing passengers to adjust the tilt of their chair, chaise lounge or bed, as well as the lighting and window blinds. The tablet also provides easy access to the entertainment system. Free high-speed wi-fi will be available across the fleet.
The result of three years of development, the first La Première suites will debut on select Boeing 777-300ERs, launching on flights to New York-JFK in spring 2025, with Los Angeles, Singapore and Tokyo-Haneda to follow.
In an interview with Reuters, Air France/KLM CEO Ben Smith said the new product aims to make AF the leader in European airline luxury, ahead of rivals British Airways and Lufthansa.
“A large percentage of the customers are flying for business reasons … Many of them have the choice of a private jet or flying in first class,” he said.
“What is new for us over the last few years is a marked increase in the number of luxury customers that are flying for leisure purposes.”
La Première passengers will also have exclusive access to the French flag carrier’s ultra-exclusive Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport lounge, which was opened just before the Paris Olympics in 2024.
All images ©Air France
