Air France has thrown down the gauntlet to global carriers with its stunning new La Première first class cabin that will be sure to worry rivals in a highly competitive field.
The French flag carrier unveiled its distinctive approach to luxury first class travel on March 18, 2025, with the introduction of the La Première cabins and the all-important nitty-gritty details.
The cabins will begin to appear gradually on a selection of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft starting in Spring 2025, with four available on each flight for Air France’s highest spending passengers.
Each suite will come with an outrageous amount of space, at nearly 3.5 square meters, and feature a seat plus a chaise longue that converts into a two-meter-long bed.
Spread across a generous five windows, La Première passengers will have the lion’s share of viewing points to see the world drift by, as well as a thick, floor-to-ceiling curtain that can be drawn for complete privacy.
“Developed over three years, Air France’s new La Première suite features a unique and fully adaptable design, consisting of a seat and a chaise longue that transform into a full bed,” a spokesperson for Air France said.
The seat transforms for different phases of the flight, with takeoff, landing, dining or relaxation modes, and includes an embossed leather headrest featuring Air France’s historic winged seahorse emblem.
Adjacent suites in the center of the cabin allow for shared travel experiences and can be separated if required by a full-height, electric sliding partition activated at the touch of a button.
As one would expect, the new suites have been crafted in France, with STELIA Aerospace providing the creativity alongside the Design Investment studio and the SGK Brandimage agency.
Located at the front of the aircraft, Air France claims that the suites display a “harmonious color palette dominated by shades of gray, with leather-trimmed finishes and exclusive fabrics created for La Première” and “touches of red” to add “character and distinction”.
Overhead compartments have been replaced with floor-level storage, including a large sliding drawer for up to two carry-on suitcases and a second storage point under the chaise longue for footwear.
Each guest will have two 32-inch 4K screens accessible from the seat, chaise longue or bed, plus access to noise-canceling headphones.
The suite is equipped with 110V/220V electrical outlets, USB-A and USB-C ports, wireless charging stations, and dedicated holders for smartphones or tablets.
The first aircraft to feature the new La Première cabin, named Épernay, will take off in the spring and fly to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.
Other destinations, including Los Angeles, Singapore, and Tokyo, will be added during the Summer 2025 season.
Air France’s current La Première product is available from Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Abidjan, Dubai, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington DC.
