During the pandemic, first class faced an uncertain future. Many airlines cut routes, retired jumbo jets, and poured their premium budgets into ever-more-polished business-class cabins. Now, top-tier seating is being reimagined, and the category is enjoying a genuine renaissance.
“People generally don’t want to pay for it unless it’s really, really good,” says Brian Sumers, aviation analyst and editor of the Airline Observer. Only a few operators consistently deliver,…

