Revealed: Cathay’s new Aria business class suites

Cathay is counting down to a mid-year debut for its all-new 777 business class, which will be marketed under the Aria Suites banner and fitted to both the current Boeing 777-300ER and forthcoming 777-9 jets.

And in many ways, the Aria Suites are a reimagining of the Oneworld member’s long-standing business class which debuted in 2010 and was refined in 2016.

Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suites 777 business class.

It’s almost as if that business class seat has been seen through fresh eyes: if the designers were starting from scratch in 2024, but thinking along the same broad lines, then Aria is what they’d land on.

As a result, the Aria Suites keep most of what Cathay Pacific’s business class travellers like – such as the angled window-facing orientation, which can deliver a greater sense of personal space compared to the tighter confines of a forward-facing seat –  and improve upon the rest.

Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suites 777 business class.

But you’ll have to be patient: Lavinia Lau, Cathay’s Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, tells Executive Traveller that 30 Boeing 777-300ER jets will be upgraded at a rate of one per month, a process which will take through to  mid-2027.

Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suites 777 business class.

So because the number eight is associated with prosperity and success in Chinese culture, here’s a rundown of the eight big improvements in the new Cathay Pacific Aria Suites business class experience.

1. A sliding door

Travellers will be cocooned in a proper private suite with the now-mandatory sliding door, bringing Cathay up to the mark of its biggest competitors while waiting for others – among them Emirates, Qantas and Singapore Airlines – to catch up with their own next-gen releases.

Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suites 777 business class.

The door on the Aria Suite is paired with a tall wrap-around shell for a degree of privacy even when that door is open (something many travellers prefer when they’re not sleeping, or are working in ‘do not disturb’ mode).

2. Middle seat privacy panel

Another clear win in the privacy stakes: there’s finally a divider between the paired middle seats – something noticeably lacking in Cathay’s current business class.

Huzzah! A sliding privacy divider between the middle seats.

Leave it closed if you’re flying solo, or slide it open if you’re travelling with your partner or a friend.

Executive Traveller understands Cathay is also working on a way to have the video content of two screens play in sync, just as if you were watching the same movie or TV show while sitting together on your couch at home.

3. A bigger screen with Bluetooth audio

Cathay is upsizing the video screen in each Aria Suite to a whopping 24 inches running at 4K resolution, and it appears to be fixed into the seating module rather than mounted on a swing-out arm, so it can be used on a gate-to-gate basis.

Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suites 777 business class.

In addition to a new streamlined user interface which makes it easier to navigate the packed library of movies, TV shows and more, the audio can be streamed via Bluetooth to your own set of wireless noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds.

If you prefer to BYO entertainment, just prop your tablet or smartphone into the groove on the slide-out table.

A convenient nook to keep your own device upright.

4. Wireless charging

Rest your phone, tablet or wireless earbud case onto the bench next to your seat and voila, wireless charging kicks in.

Keep your phone juiced up - no charging cable required.

It won’t be as fast to charge as a cabled connection to the AC and USB-C power outlets, but it’s super convenient to have your phone or tablet right there within reach.

5. More storage

Just in front of the wireless charging point is a concealed drawer which slides open to stow your passport, phone, tablet, reading glasses, a book or magazine, and other assorted oddments.

A discreet tray for your passport or wallet.

This is in addition to the familiar shoulder-height cabinet with a small mirror and room for an amenity kit.

Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suites 777 business class.

There is also a small storage area alongside your legs. 

The pullout tray table in Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suites 777 business class.

6. Free WiFi

Although not exclusively part of the Aria Suites proposition,  another plank in Cathay’s the 2024 overhaul of the business class experience will see all business class passengers enjoy free unlimited WiFi (a perk currently limited to first class), along with top-tier Cathay Diamond frequent flyers sitting in premium economy or economy.

7. A warmer look and feel

Evoking what Cathay describes as ‘quiet luxury’, the new Boeing 777 Aria Suites show an elegant face of gentle curves and patterned woodgrain-like surfaces.

At first glance it seems warmer, more relaxed and possibly even more tactile than today’s business class.

The Aria Suite has gone from drawing board to departure gate under the guidance of London’s JPA Design, with the highly-regarded firm confirming “we have partnered with Cathay Pacific to design and develop their next generation of aircraft cabin interiors.”

8. An art gallery in the sky

And for something very different, each 777 will feature a unique piece of artwork “curated” by Cathay Pacific through a collaboration with artists who hold “a profound connection to Hong Kong.”

The airline says each piece offers a different perspective on nature, ranging from urban landscapes to vividly imagined dreamscapes.

As previously reported, a partnership with Michelin-starred Duddell’s is also elevating Cathay’s business class meals with Cantonese-inspired dishes such as red braised Iberico pork belly, wok fried lobster and chrysanthemum & longan jelly in first class, with ‘drunken prawns, steamed halibut and ginger milk pudding in business class.

These are cornerstones of Cathay’s ‘Hong Kong Flavours’ concept, which General Manager of Customer Experience and Design Vivian Lo considers “a much more modern take in terms of food.”

“In the past, I think planners in the airline, think of the meal choice as one Chinese, one Western, one vegetarian,” Lo previously told Executive Traveller, “or one red meat, one white meat or fish, and then one vegetarian.”

The cabin takes on a different feel when the lights are dimmed.

“In some ways that still exists (but) we also have a different style of design,” Lo explains.

“As Hong Kong’s home airline, we place great importance on serving our customers with authentic local culinary delights while also showcasing the diverse range of cuisines our city has to offer.”