The best in new business class for 2026

Business class is soaring from strength to strength. Increased privacy, more comfort and smarter tech continue to lead the charge, while still leaving plenty of room for airlines to innovate and differentiate with thoughtful and practical touches.

And while we’re almost halfway through 2026 (yes, we’re astounded how those months have flown by!), there’s a bumper crop of new business class seats and suites yet to come in for a landing.

United Airlines ‘Elevated 787’ Polaris business class

The Elevated 787 is how United describes a wave of factory-fresh Dreamliners designed for an improved travel experience from tip to tail.

United Airline's 'Elevated 787' Polaris business class.

That begins with eight Polaris Studio suites – four in the front row of each of the two business class cabins – boasting 25% more space, an ottoman seat for companions, a 27-inch 4K OLED video screen, and an uplift over the standard Polaris dining, pyjamas and amenity kits.

United Airline's 'Elevated 787' Polaris Studio business class.

Not that the 56 Polaris suites are too shabby: like the Polaris Studio berths you get a sliding privacy door, Bluetooth audio (from a still-impressive 19-inch OLED panel) and wireless charging.

United Airline's 'Elevated 787' Polaris business class.

United began flying the first Elevated 787s on routes from San Francisco to Singapore and London only last month, with Sydney lined up for December 2026.

Air India 787 business class

Air India has just begun upgrading its Boeing 787-8s with the same business class suites which debuted in January on a newly-delivered 787-9.

The Star Alliance member is finally ditching seats which were already out-dated when they launched in 2012...

Air India's original 787-8 business class.

... and replacing them with these modern ticks-all-the-boxes suites.

Air India's new 787 business class.

There’s direct aisle access, courtesy of the 1-2-1 layout, plus sliding privacy doors, a 17-inch HD screen with Bluetooth streaming, USB-C and wireless charging, and some handy storage nooks into the bargain.

Air India's new 787 business class.

And with Air India planning to refit all 26 of its 787-8s across the next 18 months, there’s a high chance these refurb’d birds will soon grace the Sydney-Delhi and Melbourne-Delhi routes.

Air India's new 787 business class.

Riyadh Air 787 business class

Saudi Arabian startup Riyadh Air is running almost a year behind its original schedule, but there’s renewed optimism the coming months will see its indigo-hued Dreamliners begin darting to London, Dubai, Cairo and a handful of popular European destinations, with key Asian cities to follow.

Riyadh Air will fly two liveries across its 787 fleet.

Up front are 28 private business suites, each with a sliding door and framed by a 52-inch (1.3m) wall.

Riyadh Air's 787 business class.

Topping that off are four over-sized Business Elite suites perched in the first row of the cabin.

Riyadh Air's 787 Business Elite suite.

Each of those premium-priced ‘business plus’ berths has a companion bench seat so that travellers can share anything from a meal to a game of cards, while the paired centre suites can convert into a double bed.

Riyadh Air's 787 Business Elite suite.

Large bright 4K OLED screens – from 22 inches in standard business class to a massive 32 inches in Business Elite – will serve up a wealth of entertainment along with live TV news and sport channels, with Bluetooth audio beamed to the passenger’s headphones or earbuds.

Riyadh Air's 787 business class.

Inside the headrest of each business class seat is a pair of finely-tuned speakers from high-end French audio house Devialet.

These let you enjoy movies, TV shows and music without donning headphones or earbuds, yet without any sound ‘leakage’ which may annoy the passenger next to you.

ANA 787 The Room FX business class

August 2026 will mark the biggest change to ANA’s Boeing 787 business class in 15 years, and the new seat is certain to divide passengers.

ANA's 787 The Room FX business class.

Dubbed The Room FX (for Future Experience), and based on The Room business class of the Boeing 777, this is a sofa-style seat which doesn’t recline – the same concept pioneered by Finnair’s love-it-or-hate-it AirLounge business class.

ANA's 787 The Room FX business class.

You still get a fully lie-flat bed – however, instead of the seat itself folding down, an adjustable leg-rest panel swings up to create a 76.5" (194cm) surface for sleeping.

ANA's 787 The Room FX business class.

ANA's 787 The Room FX business class.

ANA says its doored 787 suites are a generous 27 inches (69cm) wide at the waist, compared to just under 20 inches (around 50cm) today.

ANA's 787 The Room FX business class.

That extra space comes courtesy of a revised cabin layout which will see half of all 48 business class passengers facing backwards.

ANA's 787 The Room FX business class.

At least the other mod cons will be cheered. Travellers will enjoy a 24-inch monitor with Bluetooth audio, wireless charging, and the now-standard trio of AC, USB-C and USB-A power outlets.

ANA's 787 The Room FX business class.

Qantas A350-1000 ‘Project Sunrise’ Business Suites

Moving into the tail end of the year brings us to the next generation of Qantas’ long-range business class – and in this case, it’s ultra long-range.

This is the all-new Business Suite which will grace a fleet of Airbus A350-1000 jets on ambitious non-stop Project Sunrise flights from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York.

Qantas' ultra-long range A350-1000.

The first globe-striding A350s are now coming together at Airbus HQ in Toulouse, with exhuastive flight tests ahead of the first aircraft delivery in late 2026.

Airbus will soon begin test flights for Qantas' ultra-long range A350-1000.

Business class passengers on those 20-22 hour marathons will be cocooned in suites with sliding doors and 47-inch high walls – a first for the Flying Kangaroo.

Qantas' A350-1000 business class.

Inside: a wider seat fronting a cushioned leather ottoman and 18-inch video screen with Bluetooth audio, USB-C and wireless device charging, free broadband Wi-Fi, and more.

Qantas' A350-1000 business class.

The suite’s walls are lined with a soft-touch material to reduce noise and add a tactile element to what Qantas describes as a ‘residential’ aesthetic in materials and colours...

Qantas' A350-1000 business class.

... while the 2-metre lie-flat bed is slightly longer than Qantas’ current A380 first class offering.

Qantas' A350-1000 business class.

And before Qantas launches the Sydney-London and Sydney-New York routes from mid-2027, the A350s will make short hops across the pond between Australia and New Zealand to help train pilots and cabin crew on the new jets (with the bonus of insane publicity and no doubt fully-booked flights by enthusiasts eager to sample the new suites).

Cathay Pacific A330 Aria Studio

While those Qantas A350s will undertake non-stop flights from one corner of the globe to the other, Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A330 fleet has a more modest scope of relatively short hops around Asia.

But the airline’s new A330 Aria Studio regional business class, arriving towards the end of 2026, will deliver the same core experience of lie-flat beds with a 1-2-1 layout for direct aisle access.

Cathay Pacific's A330 Aria Studio regional business class.

When you compare the new Aria Studio to the existing 2-2-2 recliners of Cathay’s regional A330 workhorses, you can appreciate why this is the biggest leap in business class we’ll see this year.

Cathay Pacific's original A330 regional business class.

The Aria Studio is inspired by the Aria Suites of the Boeing 777 and adorned with high-tech touches like USB-C and wireless charging, while a large 4K video screen supports Bluetooth pairing with a passenger’s own headphones or earbuds.

It also shares the same understated design language of materials, finishes and aesthetics, along with the familiar ‘reverse herringbone’ layout of Cathay’s long-range business class, where each seat is oriented away from the aisle.

Cathay Pacific's A330 Aria Studio regional business class.

However, the Aria Studio doesn’t have a privacy door: something Cathay considers less crucial on the A330’s relatively short regional flights.

Cathay Pacific's A330 Aria Studio regional business class.

Over the next few years Cathay will upgrade the bulk of its regional A330s into a single Aria Studio-led configuration, compared to today’s three variants.

Air Canada 787-10 Signature Class

This is one of three new business class seats which we expect to see unveiled in a blaze of launch publicity at the end of 2026 before actually flying in early 2027 (the others are from Delta Air Lines and Singapore Airlines, as detailed later in this article).

Air Canada's 787-10 Signature Class.

And for Air Canada, this is not just about the second generation of its Signature Class, but also showcasing a new ‘Glowing Hearted’ design standard (the name is drawn from a line in the country’s national anthem).

Red stitching and bespoke fabrics provide a subtle Canadian touch, paired with a palette of greys and stone, with natural woodgrain details complemented by bronze metal accents, high-touch leather-grain surfaces and metal finishes.

Air Canada's 787-10 Signature Class.

It’s a warmer, richer and more welcoming look than the anodyne aesthetic of the original Signature Suite, and will also extend to the long-range A321XLR jets before making its way to other Air Canada points of presence such as the IFE system, digital platforms and airport lounges.

As to the Signature Suite itself: this is another product with the works, from sliding doors to sharp 4K OLED screens with Bluetooth audio, AC and USB-C power.

Air Canada's 787-10 Signature Class.

Row 1 introduces four spacious Signature Plus suites with upsized 27-inch screens, a higher wall for additional privacy, and companion seating; the paired middle suites can also be opened up so groups of four can share the journey.

Air Canada's 787-10 Signature Plus suite.

Delta Air Lines A350-1000 Delta One business class

Like Air Canada’s 787-10 Signature Suites, Delta has already shared images of its A350-1000 Delta One business class – now we await the real-world reveal before these extended-range A350s hit the departure board in early 2027 on some of the carrier’s longest and most popular routes.

Delta's A350-1000 Delta One business class.

The lie-flat beds will be 2 metres long – up from 1.93m in the first-gen Delta One suites – with a plush “pillow-top cushion” layered on top of the memory foam mattress.

A fresh design to maximise in-suite space also offers more knee and leg room, especially for side-sleepers.

Delta's A350-1000 Delta One business class.

Delta promises that even when you’re not sleeping, a ‘zero-gravity’ recline mode will fully cradle your body to reduce pressure on your lower back and enhance circulation.

We love thoughtful touches like the dedicated shoe cabinet and handy storage nook directly above...

Delta's A350-1000 Delta One business class.

... and even the clever little holder for your reading glasses or sunnies.

Delta's A350-1000 Delta One business class.

Naturally there’s AC, USB-C and wireless charging, with Bluetooth audio streamed from a 24-inch 4K QLED screen.

Delta's A350-1000 Delta One business class.

Delta has also revised the cabin layout, switching from the original forward-facing Delta One config to having the window seats actually facing the window, while middle seats are angled away from the aisle.

Delta's A350-1000 Delta One business class.

Singapore Airlines A350 business class

Closing out the year in style will be Singapore Airlines, as it pulls back the curtains on its new A350 business class, due to take wing in early 2027 (pushed back a full year from the previous “second quarter of 2026” due to industry-wide supply chain constraints and necessary seat certification).

In a design which seems more akin to first class, SQ’s A350 business suites will “push the boundaries of comfort, luxury, and modernity for an unparalleled onboard experience.”

Singapore Airlines' 350 business class.

Behind that door: a forward-facing seat with an ottoman footrest under what we can assume will be big bright OLED panel with Bluetooth audio streaming.

There’s no word on if Singapore Airlines will adopt a business plus treatment in the front row, although it is promising “an elevated dining experience” which may include a caviar service, and there remains the possibility of pyjamas.

From tip to tail, these upgraded A350s will also boast free superfast Starlink Wi-Fi and a “next-generation KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system.”

Thai Airways Royal Silk Suites business class

This one remains in the ‘to be announced’ column, but we do know that Thai Airways’ Royal Silk Suites – intended for its long-range fleet, including Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 jets – are on the way.

While there are scant details and no photos as yet, airline CEO Chai Eamsiri has previously confirmed these “state-of-the-art” suites will include sliding privacy doors and 24-inch video screens.

Thai also plans four “business class plus” suites at row 1, as Thai moves away from a dedicated first class cabin.

“This first row will be business class plus,” Eamsiri said. “More legroom, longer beds, bigger screens – it’s about giving the passengers a choice.”

Turkish Airlines A350 Crystal business class

Perhaps the biggest X-factor in the 2026 business class stakes is Turkish Airlines’ Crystal business class.

Turkish Airlines' A350 Crystal business class.

The Crystal suites have been promised as a refit for the Boeing 777s as well as intended to grace a slew of new Airbus A350-1000s slated to begin non-stop flights to Sydney and Melbourne from late 2026.

Turkish Airlines' A350 Crystal business class.

Modern touches such as wireless charging, universal AC power and two USB Type-C ports are all present and accounted for, alongside a 22-inch screen.

Turkish Airlines' A350 Crystal business class.

But Turkish Airlines has been very quiet since the Crystal business class was showcased in mid-2025, and the Istanbul carrier has declined several opportunities to provide Executive Traveller with an update on the seat and indeed the A350-1000 delivery schedule.

Also read: How row 1 of business class became the new first class