Business class is changing faster than ever. For many years, a lie-flat seat was considered the gold standard for long-haul comfort. Today, that is no longer enough. Travelers are demanding more privacy, smarter technology, and personalized features that make the journey feel closer to a private room in the sky.

This shift is creating two very different types of business class experiences. Some airlines, such as La Compagnie or older Lufthansa cabins, still offer products without direct aisle access or sliding doors. These may be more affordable, but they sacrifice privacy and comfort. At the other end of the spectrum are airlines racing to introduce enclosed suites, high-tech entertainment, and wellness-focused features. Qatar Airways’ Qsuite set the benchmark years ago, and now competitors are moving quickly to match or surpass it.

The coming years will bring the largest wave of upgrades in business class history. Between 2026 and 2027, a dozen major airlines will roll out new or redesigned products across their fleets. Most will feature sliding privacy doors, larger 4K OLED screens, wireless charging, in-seat climate control, and more spacious designs with extra storage.

SWISS Senses

SWISS is preparing one of its biggest cabin transformations with the launch of SWISS Senses in early 2026. The redesign will bring a more modern and personalized experience, with greater choice of seating styles, more privacy, and improved comfort. It is a step away from the traditional one-size-fits-all business class and toward a cabin where every passenger can find the seat that best suits their preferences.

SWISS Senses business class with multiple seating types and personalized comfort features. Photo by SWISS

The first aircraft to showcase the new product will be the Airbus A350-900, which will enter service on the Zurich to Boston route. Over time, the upgrade will extend to the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 fleets, ensuring consistency across long-haul services.

The highlight of the upgrade is the introduction of private suites with sliding doors, along with a refreshed overall design that emphasizes both space and atmosphere. Travelers can expect an experience that feels more exclusive and thoughtfully designed compared to the current cabin.

You can read the full SWISS Senses review here.

Qatar Airways Qsuite Next Gen

Qatar Airways has long been considered a leader in premium travel thanks to its award-winning Qsuite business class, and now the airline is preparing to raise the bar again with Qsuite Next Gen. Unveiled at the Farnborough Airshow in 2024, the new version builds on the original design with even more advanced technology and greater flexibility.

Qatar Airways’ Qsuite Next Gen with taller dividers and movable 4K OLED screens. Photo by Qatar Airways.

Qsuite Next Gen will debut on Qatar’s upcoming Boeing 777-9 fleet, expected to enter service around 2025. The design introduces movable 4K OLED screens that can reposition to create shared or social spaces, taller privacy dividers with digital controls, and more spacious lie-flat beds with additional shoulder and legroom. Passengers can also look forward to upgraded lighting, more storage, and even a partially automated turn-down service.

While it remains unclear if Qatar will retrofit its existing A350 and 777 aircraft with the new product, the Next Gen version confirms Qatar’s intention to maintain its reputation as one of the best business class airlines in the world. For travelers, it promises an even more refined mix of privacy, comfort, and innovation.

Air Canada New Business Class

Air Canada will introduce a brand-new business class product in June 2026 with the arrival of its Airbus A321XLR fleet. This marks a big step for the airline, as it brings long-haul lie-flat seats to a narrowbody jet for the first time. The move will allow Air Canada to serve routes that were previously not possible with widebodies, while still offering a premium business class experience.

Air Canada’s Signature Busines Class cabin on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Photo by Air Canada.

The first A321XLR will be deployed on a new transatlantic service from Montreal to Palma de Mallorca, Spain. More routes will follow as additional aircraft join the fleet, opening up opportunities for direct connections between smaller North American cities and European leisure destinations.

What makes this upgrade special is that it gives passengers a true widebody-style business class experience on a single-aisle aircraft. For travelers, this means more choice and flexibility without compromising on comfort. Lie-flat seats, improved privacy, and thoughtful design details will set a new standard for medium- and long-haul narrowbody flying.

LOT Polish Airlines Business Class Suites

LOT Polish Airlines is preparing a significant leap forward in passenger comfort with a complete refurbishment of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner fleet. Starting in late 2026, the airline will move away from its older 2-2-2 layout and introduce a modern 1-2-1 configuration, giving every business class passenger direct aisle access and a much more private experience.

LOT Polish Airlines’ upcoming Recaro CL6720 suite with sliding privacy doors. Photo by LOT Polish Airlines.

The new seats, designed by Recaro, will include sliding privacy doors and feature-rich amenities like 17.3-inch 4K entertainment screens, wireless charging, and USB-C ports. The cabin will also debut a fresh design inspired by the Polish landscape, with deep blues and copper accents creating a distinctive atmosphere.

These updated Dreamliners will primarily serve LOT’s long-haul routes from Warsaw to destinations across North America and Asia. For travelers who have been accustomed to LOT’s more traditional business class, this upgrade will feel like a complete transformation, bringing the product in line with global standards for premium travel.

Read a full review of LOT Polish Airlines business class here.

Turkish Airlines Crystal Business Class Suites

Turkish Airlines has introduced its new Crystal business class suites, marking a major step forward in its long-haul offering. The suites are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving every passenger direct aisle access, and include sliding doors for a more private experience.

Each suite features a widened footwell, window-facing seats, marble-style surfaces, rose gold accents, and premium locally sourced materials. On the tech side, passengers will enjoy 22-inch high-definition screens, wireless charging, USB-C and universal power ports, noise-canceling audio, and customizable ambient lighting.

The Crystal suites will debut on retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft beginning in 2025, with brand-new Airbus A350 deliveries from 2026 also featuring the cabin. Turkish Airlines also plans to introduce free, unlimited WiFi across the fleet by the end of 2025, enhancing the overall inflight experience.

With this launch, Turkish Airlines positions itself firmly among carriers offering true suite-style business class, combining privacy, design, and advanced technology.

United Polaris Studio

United Airlines is preparing the next evolution of its Polaris business class, with a new concept called Polaris Studio. The redesigned suites will be more spacious, private, and high-tech, marking a big step forward from the current Polaris product that has been in service for several years.

United Airlines’ new Polaris Studio with larger suites and 27-inch 4K OLED screens. Photo by United Airlines.

The first aircraft to feature Polaris Studio will be United’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, expected to begin passenger service in 2026. These jets will be deployed on some of United’s most competitive long-haul routes, including San Francisco to Singapore and London.

What will set Polaris Studio apart is the increase in personal space and the addition of privacy doors, making the cabin feel much closer to a suite-style layout. Each seat will be around 25 percent larger than the current Polaris version, with upgraded features such as a companion ottoman for dining or working together, a massive 27-inch 4K OLED screen, and wireless charging built into the seat area.

For travelers who are already familiar with United Polaris, the Studio concept will feel like a major refresh, offering a much more modern and competitive option in the premium travel market.

Singapore Airlines Business Class Suites

Singapore Airlines, long known for its premium service, is preparing a major refresh of its Airbus A350-900 cabins. Starting in mid-2026, the airline will roll out a new business class suite concept designed to bring more privacy and consistency across its fleet.

Singapore Airlines’ redesigned A350 business class with private suites. Photo by Singapore Airlines.

The upgrade will be introduced through a retrofit program that standardizes the business class product across Singapore Airlines’ long-range A350s. These aircraft are used on a wide variety of long-haul routes, so the changes will quickly become visible to travelers around the world.

What makes this update important is the addition of sliding doors, which will give passengers greater privacy than in the current layout. Combined with a more comfortable lie-flat bed and a refreshed design, the new cabins are expected to raise the airline’s already strong reputation in the business class market.

Qantas Project Sunrise

Qantas is preparing to launch one of the most ambitious premium cabins in the industry with its Project Sunrise business class. Designed specifically for the world’s longest flights, these new suites are built to maximize comfort and well-being on journeys of up to 20 hours.

Qatar Airways’ Qsuite Next Gen with taller dividers and movable 4K OLED screens. Photo by Qatar Airways.

The new cabins will debut on the Airbus A350-1000ULR, with the first deliveries expected in 2027. These aircraft will operate the non-stop routes from Sydney and Melbourne to New York and London, finally turning Qantas’s vision of ultra-long-haul direct services into reality.

The business class cabin will feature 52 private suites with sliding doors, lie-flat beds, and generous storage. Beyond the seat itself, passengers will also have access to a dedicated Wellbeing Zone, a space designed to help stretch, hydrate, and refresh during the ultra-long-haul journey.

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This launch will be a milestone not only for Qantas but for the entire industry, as it sets a new standard for what business class can look like on the world’s longest flights.

China Airlines A350 Retrofit

China Airlines is preparing its first major upgrade to the Airbus A350-900 fleet, with a retrofit program scheduled to begin in 2027. The project will modernize the cabins across all classes, but the biggest changes will be seen in business class.

China Airlines’ refreshed business class seat with wood-grain design elements. Photo by China Airlines.

The new product will bring upgraded seating and in-flight entertainment, along with a refreshed design that maintains the airline’s signature persimmon wood-grain aesthetic. While details are still limited, the focus will be on enhancing passenger privacy and creating a more premium feel in line with other leading Asian carriers.

These retrofitted A350s will operate long-haul routes from Taipei to Europe, North America, and Oceania. For travelers used to China Airlines’ current A350 layout, the coming changes will mark a clear step toward a more competitive premium product.

Hawaiian Airlines A330 Retrofit

Hawaiian Airlines is planning a major refurbishment of its long-haul Airbus A330 fleet, with work expected to begin in 2026. The upgrade will replace the airline’s older 2-2-2 business class layout with a more modern configuration that improves both privacy and comfort.

The refreshed cabins will be deployed on Hawaiian’s long-haul network, covering routes from Honolulu to the mainland United States as well as key destinations across the Asia-Pacific region. For many travelers, this will mean a noticeable jump in quality, as the airline brings its product closer to what other international carriers already offer.

While full details of the new seat have yet to be revealed, the shift toward a more private, lie-flat experience is clear. Passengers flying Hawaiian’s upgraded A330s can expect a much more competitive product designed to match the expectations of today’s premium travelers.

Book Your Next Flight with Above9

Not all business class flights offer the same level of quality or value. At Above9, our travel experts specialize in finding and securing the best business class experiences for your route, timing, and budget.
Our team understands airline business class seat configurations, cabin variations, and service inconsistencies, ensuring you get the most comfortable, private, and well-serviced option available. We help you avoid common booking pitfalls and take advantage of exclusive offers, upgrades, and multi-leg combinations that optimize comfort and efficiency.

Whether you are planning a solo business trip or a family vacation, Above9 can help you save thousands of dollars on long-haul business class travel while delivering a seamless and personalized booking experience.