CATHAY PACIFIC: Business Class Aria Suites come to Sydney end of March 2025

Almost universally hailed for their comfort and technology, the new Business Class Aria Suites on Cathay Pacific 777s will arrive in Sydney this month according to ET.

Background

Cathay Pacific has been a leader in passenger comfort and privacy in Business Class. In 2011, the airline introduced reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, providing fully flat beds and direct aisle access. This design was refined in 2016 with the arrival of Airbus A350 aircraft, featuring Porsche Design seats, with more storage and HD screens.

Back in 2023, Cathay Pacific unveiled the Aria Suite, a new Business Class product offering increased privacy. Features include sliding doors, touchscreen controls for lighting and seat adjustments, a 24-inch 4K entertainment screen with Bluetooth audio streaming, and multiple storage compartments.

Hong Kong to Sydney

The Aria Suite originally debuted on flights from London Heathrow to Hong Kong. In March 2025, Cathay Pacific plans to debut the Aria Suite on its Sydney to Hong Kong route on the following flights.

On Cathay’s new schedule the Aria Suites on the Boeing 777s is showing on the daily route between Hong Kong and Sydney. Tht is except for Thursday and Saturday. The Sydney service begins on Sunday, 30 March, 2025.

• CX161, departs Hong Kong 21:20 arrives Sydney 09:35
• CX162, departs Sydney 11:05 arrives Hong Kong 17:30

The route timings are pretty good, especially if you want to have most of a work day in Sydney, or reach Hong Kong in time for dinner.

The Aircraft

Cathay Pacific’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with the new Aria Suites are configured as follows:

• First Class: 6 open suites
• Business Class: 45 Aria Suites in a 1-2-1 layout, with direct aisle access for all passengers
• Premium Economy: 48 recliner seats in a 2-4-2 configuration
• Economy Class: 268 seats in a 3-4-3 layout

Premium Economy has two of its own bathrooms.

Aria Suite

It’s built on the foundations of the Collins Aerospace Elevate and Elements seats. British and Etihad Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Starlux and others have installed this platform as their latest Business Class offering.

Cathay Pacific has worked with London’s JPA Design to tailor the seat to Cathay’s demands.

2PAXfly Takeout

I have not had the pleasure of travelling in Cathay’s Business Class. I’ve only experienced Cathay’s Premium Economy, which I felt was definitely an Economy product rather than a Business minus experience.

I don’t have any plans at the moment to sample the Aria Suites, but would relish the chance.