Why Some Boeing 787-9s Offer First Class While Others Stop At Business

Bombardier Sky reports on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner configuration choices among airlines. The piece notes that more than 50 carriers operate the 787-9, and the vast majority equip the aircraft only to business class, not first class.

The article emphasizes that there is no intrinsic requirement in the airframe for a first class cabin. Therefore, whether a 787-9 includes first class is described as a configuration decision by the airline, not a structural limitation of the aircraft.

British Airways is cited as an example of a first-class configuration, fitting eight first class seats in a 1-2-1 herringbone arrangement across two rows on their 787-9s.

Etihad Airways is mentioned as offering first class on its three-class 787-9, while operating other 787-9 variants with only business and economy cabins, meaning the presence of a first-class cabin depends on the specific aircraft assignment for a given route.

The source also notes that a passenger may encounter a first-class cabin on some 787-9s and not on others, depending on which airframe is deployed for a particular route.