How much room goes to premium cabins on the 9 airlines that fly from the US to UK

Premium travel is a key area for airlines and is often touted as the only cabins where many carriers actually make their money. Whether it is first class, business, or the ever-growing premium economy market, airlines go to great lengths to ensure their premium-paying customers enjoy an enhanced onboard experience.

One of the most lucrative markets for carriers is the transatlantic market, and the US-UK market stands out in particular.

For example, in the summer of 2024, flights between the two countries hit a new record, with 4,674 one-way flights scheduled for July 2024, which is equivalent to a flight every 9.5 minutes.

There are nine airlines operating regular scheduled flights between the US and the UK:

• Aer Lingus
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Delta Air Lines
• JetBlue
• Norse Atlantic UK
• United Airlines
• TUI Airways
• Virgin Atlantic

Let's not forget Singapore Airlines too, which operates a fifth freedom service between Manchester and Houston - however, this service will be discontinuing by the end of March, so won't be considered on this list. As per data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, let's check out each airline's US-UK network and examine how much premium capacity is available.

Aer Lingus

A330-300

Aer Lingus is the flag carrier of Ireland, which isn't part of the United Kingdom, so its services to the US out of Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport don't count.

However, the airline operates two routes between the US and the UK via Manchester Airport, namely to New York JFK and Orlando International.

The carrier deploys its 317-seater Airbus A330-300s on both of these routes, which are equipped with 30 business class and 287 economy seats. In the business cabin, the full lie-flat seats are in a staggered 1-2-2 or 1-2-1 configuration, meaning there are a couple of sought-after 'Throne Seats' (3K and 5K).

American Airlines

777-200/300 and 787-8/9

The world's largest airline (by fleet size and passengers served, that is) operates an extensive network of US-UK routes, with almost all of its flights arriving at London Heathrow, other than a Philadelphia-Edinburgh service due to resume this summer.

American Airlines offers ample capacity in business and premium economy across the fleet, as well as a small number of Flagship First seats on its 777-300ERs:

• 777-200 - 37 in business and 24 in premium economy
• 777-300 - 8 in first class, 52 in business and 28 in premium economy
• 787-8 - 20 in business and 28 in premium economy
• 787-9 - 30 in business and 21 in premium economy

The airline's international Flagship First product is on its way out, but can still be found on select 777-300s and A321s. In the coming years, it will retrofit 20 aircraft in its 777-300 fleet to offer an impressive 70 business suites and 44 premium economy seats.

British Airways

A350-1000, A380, 777-200/300, 787-8/9/10

As the airline with the largest capacity and network between the US and the UK, British Airways deploys its full range of widebody aircraft on its transatlantic routes. Its widebody fleet is heavily equipped with premium capacity - particularly its A380s and 777-300s - but its other aircraft aren't lacking in this department either:

• A350-1000 - 56 Club Suites and 56 in premium economy
• A380 - 14 in first class, 97 in business and 55 in premium economy
• 777-200 [5 different configurations] - Up to 14 in first class, 32-49 business and 40-52 premium economy seats
• 777-300 - 8 in first class, 76 Club Suites and 40 in premium economy
• 787-8 - 31-35 in business and 25-37 in premium economy
• 787-9 - 8 in first class, 42 in business and 39 in premium economy
• 787-10 - 8 in first class, 48 Club Suites and 35 in premium economy

The airline currently flies to 26 different US airports, primarily out of its London Heathrow base. However, it also serves a few cities out of nearby London Gatwick:

Delta Air Lines

A330-200, A330neo, 767-300/400

Delta Air Lines flies to three UK destinations—London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Edinburgh—from eight US airports: Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, New York JFK, Orlando, Minneapolis–St. Paul, Seattle, and Salt Lake City.

Its premium capacity is below that of some of the other carriers on this list, particularly in the premium economy department. However, it does offer its Comfort+ seats, which, although they aren't considered a proper premium economy product, still offer an enhanced experience with extra legroom and priority boarding.

• A330-200 - 34 in Delta One, 21 in Premium Select and 24 Comfort+
• A330neo - 29 in Delta One, 28 in Premium Select and 56 Comfort+
• 767-300 [3 different configurations] - 26-36 in Delta One, 18 in Premium Select (retrofitted planes only) and 29-35 Comfort+
• 767-400 - 34 in Delta One, 20 in Premium Select and 28 in Comfort+

JetBlue

A321, A321neo

Since entering the transatlantic market in the summer of 2021, JetBlue has expanded its US-UK network to six routes and three UK destinations: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Edinburgh, all from its Boston and New York JFK hubs.

The airline deploys its A321-200 and A321neo fleet, which both feature its acclaimed Mint Suite product. The A321ceo has a total of 16 Mint Suites, while its A321neos are equipped with 24.

Norse Atlantic UK

787-9

The newest entrant to the US-UK market is Norse Atlantic UK, the Gatwick-based subsidiary of Norwegian low-cost, long-haul carrier Norse Atlantic. The budget airline flies to five US destinations - Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York JFK and Orlando - with its fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

While the airline doesn't offer a business class product, it has plenty of premium economy capacity with 56 seats. However, the majority of its capacity is in economy, with a total of 282 economy class seats.

TUI Airways

787-8/9

TUI Airways serves just a single US airport - Melbourne Orlando International - with seasonal flights from six UK destinations: Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, London Gatwick, Manchester and Newcastle. It first began flying to Orlando's secondary airport in 2022, becoming the first-ever airline to operate a transatlantic service there.

The carrier begins its US schedule in May and offers a decent amount of premium capacity with 47 business class seats on its 787-8 and 63 seats on its 787-9s.

Flights from Birmingham, Glasgow, London Gatwick and Manchester will see both 787-8 and 787-9 service, while Belfast will be exclusively served by the 787-9 and Newcastle by the 787-8.

United Airlines

757-200, 767-300, 777-200, 787-9/10

United Airlines utilizes five aircraft types across its UK network. The airline flies to two UK destinations—London Heathrow and Edinburgh—out of seven US airports: Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles.

• 757-200 - 16 business class seats
• 767-300 - 46 Polaris, 22 premium economy
• 777-200 - 50 Polaris, 24 premium economy
• 787-9 - 48 Polaris, 21 premium economy
• 787-10 - 44 Polaris, 21 premium economy

All the business class capacity on United's US-UK routes is its Polaris product, except flights operated by the 757-200, which handles all of its routes to Edinburgh. The airline flies to the Scottish capital from Chicago, Houston and Newark.

Virgin Atlantic

A330-300, A330neo, A350-1000, 787-9

As the second-largest airline flying between the US and the UK, Virgin Atlantic utilizes its full fleet across its wide transatlantic network. The carrier does not have a first class product but has an excellent business cabin called Upper Class, as well as its Premium (premium economy) offering.

• A330-300 - 31-32 in Upper Class, 46-48 in Premium
• A330neo - 32 in Upper Class, 46 in Premium
• A350-1000 (two configurations) - 16 or 44 in Upper Class, 56 in Premium
• 787-9 - 31 in Upper Class, 35 in Premium

Both the A330neo and A350-1000 come equipped with Virgin's 'The Loft' concept, a bar and social space for premium-paying guests to socialize. These aircraft types also offer sliding doors for the suites in Upper Class, giving an improved level of privacy over the A330-300 and 787-9 business cabins.