How the big squeeze on BA could affect you

The airline plans to add one-fifth more seats on its main long-haul plane

Are you sitting comfortably? Well, if you’re in one of the cheap seats aboard a British Airways Boeing 777, don’t get too used to it. The airline is to squeeze in almost one-fifth more seats, starting with aircraft based at Gatwick.

The story emerged in unusual fashion. BA’s holding company, IAG, held a Capital Markets Day for investors - usually a fairly routine event. But in the course of the presentation it said it was “densifying” the 777s to add extra 52 seats.

An online rumour claimed the airline was also going to cut three of the loos, but BA has said it does not recognise that suggestion. The main way it squeezes the extra people in is by making the economy cabin 10 abreast instead of nine.

A spokesperson for BA said: “We are updating our 777 cabins to bring us into line with many of our competitors.” These include Air New Zealand and Emirates, which are both highly regarded. Air France has a special fleet devoted to Caribbean and Indian Ocean services with 10 seats in each row. I’ve tried it and must say it was a dismal experience.

The longest flight from Gatwick is 6,300 miles to Lima, a journey of over 12 hours.

Short-haul passengers are also going to feel the pinch. British Airways is to add 12 extra seats on its short-haul Airbus A320 fleet operating from Heathrow, giving the planes the same seating density as easyJet.

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