G-TNED has taken off on a a journey of comfort and progress for British Airways passengers. Meet the flag carrier’s newest Airbus A321neo jet - the future of short-haul trips as part of its wide-ranging £7billion transformation plan. Why so? Box-fresh registration G-TNED, which was delivered from the Airbus factory in Hamburg just three weeks ago, features BA’s new look for 2024 and beyond, and with a very British Isles flavour.
The new seats - in deep navy with an eye-catching touches of red and white - are made by Collins Aerospace in Northern Ireland with Scottish leather from Muirhead of Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, and dress covers by Sabeti Wain Aerospace of High Wycombe, Hertfordshire. UK's longest flight takes 17 hours and flies passengers to world's most remote city Nigel Thompson checks out the new BA short-haul business class seat For the aircraft cabin, there are bulkhead features by Manchester’s Airline Services Interiors and also from across the Irish Sea, curtains and carpets by Botany Weaving of Dublin. G-TNED is of course just one plane out of a fleet of 240-plus but it’s a welcome upgrade as BA does have a legacy of old equipment: some short haul aircraft are ‘teenagers’ and on long you can be on jets that are well into their 20s.
So what’s it like? I flew to Rome in Club Europe (business) and back in economy and - ‘new plane smell’ aside, yes there really is one! - I was really impressed with the premium feel, comfy adjustable headrest a.