Hong Kong- Cathay Pacific (CX) is expanding the reach of its new Area Suite business class, placing the updated Boeing 777 on long-haul routes that now include San Francisco (SFO). This rollout marks the first scheduled deployment of the cabin in the United States.
The airline is gradually reconfiguring its Boeing 777-300ER fleet, and San Francisco (SFO) will see the upgraded product from early 2026. The move is in line with the carrier’s broader plan to refresh its long-haul network from Hong Kong (HKG).
Cathay Pacific Aria Suites to San Francisco
Cathay Pacific introduced the Area Suite in late 2024 as the next step in its premium cabin strategy.
The airline is installing the product exclusively on its long-range Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, part of a full fleet overhaul scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. The suite also appears on future Boeing 777-9 aircraft once deliveries begin.
Ten aircraft have already been repaired. These include the registrations B-KPA, B-KPE, B-KPF, B-KPO, B-KPU, B-KQH, B-KQL, B-KQX, B-KPX and B-KPI. Each jet undergoes internal work at the Xiamen XMN, a process that takes approximately seven weeks. The next aircraft in the queue is B-KQQ, which will soon join the upgraded fleet.
The Area Suite layout on the 777-300ER consists of 45 business class seats, creating a separate cabin footprint. Rows 14 and 20 provide easy visual confirmation for passengers to check seating plans during booking.
Current long distance routes featuring Aria Suite
For the IATA winter season, passengers can find Aria Suite operating regularly between Hong Kong HKG and several major destinations.
These include Frankfurt FRA on the CX289 or CX288 rotation, London LHR on the CX255 or CX250, Melbourne MEL on the CX163 or CX178, Sydney SYD on the CX101 or CX100, and Vancouver YVR on the CX888 or CX865. Select flights to Bangkok BKK and Sapporo CTS also offer suite access on a variable basis.
The United States will join the list from January 3, 2026. Cathay Pacific has scheduled the reconfigured Boeing 777-300ER on the San Francisco SFO route three times per week under the CX872 or CX873 rotation. As with any long-haul fleet assignment, changes are subject to change, so passengers should verify their aircraft type prior to booking.
How can travelers confirm Aria Suite availability?
Travelers can confirm the presence of the Aria Suite through several reliable indicators. Google Flights labels the product as a personal suite when an area layout is scheduled.
Cathay Pacific’s website displays the aircraft type and its seat map, which clearly shows the 45 suite configurations when applicable. Seat map details, especially the unique lines mentioned earlier, provide the most definitive confirmation.
Passengers booking award tickets will get the best availability through Cathay Pacific’s own loyalty program, which provides the most frequent access to premium cabin inventory.
Outlook for fleet upgrades
Cathay Pacific aims to reconfigure its entire Boeing 777-300ER long-haul fleet by the end of 2027. With each retrofit requiring approximately two months, the rollout continues at a deliberate pace.
The return of additional aircraft to service will allow more routes to receive the product, expanding access to the airline’s newest business class.
Stay tuned with us. Also, follow us on social media for latest updates.
Join us on Telegram group for latest aviation updates. Next, follow us on Google News
<a href=