These Airlines Offer the Most First Class Seats in 2025

First class has long been the most prestigious way to fly. For decades, it symbolized glamour, exclusivity, and the ultimate in comfort at 35,000 feet.

But as airlines continue to evolve their cabins, its role has shifted. Some carriers have scaled back or eliminated the product altogether, citing rising costs and stronger demand for business class.

Others have doubled down, expanding first class fleets or reinventing the experience with private suites, fine dining, and five-star service. Today, international first class is far from a universal offering.

Only two dozen airlines still provide first-class services, and their approaches vary dramatically. While some airlines maintain hundreds of first-class seats across global fleets, others reserve the product for a single aircraft or flagship route.

Photo: Emirates

Most First Class Airlines Seats

When evaluating first class availability, two key factors matter: the number of aircraft in the fleet featuring the product, and the total number of seats those cabins represent. Together, these numbers provide a clear picture of an airline’s commitment to offering first class.

No other airline comes close to Emirates when it comes to first class capacity, reported One Mile At a Time. With 201 aircraft carrying more than 2,200 first class seats, the Dubai-based carrier dominates the market. The size of this footprint reflects Emirates’ strategy of pairing scale with luxury.

The airline’s investment in this product is visible not only in the skies but also on the ground. Its sprawling first class lounge in Dubai International Airport is larger than some terminals.

Emirates’ catering operations handle staggering volumes of caviar, champagne, and fine dining meals daily. Maintaining consistently high standards at this scale is no small achievement.

Photo: British Airways

The Mid-Tier Leaders

British Airways sits comfortably in second place with 680 first class seats spread across 76 aircraft.

While its product is less exclusive than competitors such as Air France or Singapore Airlines, it remains a key differentiator on transatlantic and long-haul routes from London Heathrow.

Korean Air and Lufthansa follow closely with 294 and 283 seats, respectively. Lufthansa’s position may shift as its new Allegris cabin configurations roll out, with potential changes to the size and style of its first class.

Korean Air, meanwhile, has reduced marketing emphasis on first class, although it still maintains significant cabin space in its fleet.

Photo: SWISS

Boutique Airlines & Niche Operators

Some carriers prioritize exclusivity over scale. For example, Air France offers one of the most prestigious products in the world, La Première, with only 84 seats across its fleet. It’s ground experience.

SWISS, on the other hand, stands out not for size but for consistency. Every single one of its long-haul aircraft is fitted with a first-class cabin, making it the only airline to guarantee first-class availability on every intercontinental flight it operates.

At the other end of the spectrum, Garuda Indonesia has the smallest footprint, offering just eight seats on a single aircraft. This makes its product the rarest of them all — available to only a handful of passengers at any given time.

Photo: Emirates

Regional Highlights

Asia and the Middle East

Asia remains home to some of the most innovative first class products. Singapore Airlines has reinvented its suites to resemble hotel rooms in the sky, while Japan Airlines and ANA continue to serve high-end travelers on transpacific and Europe-bound routes. Korean Air, despite reducing its focus on first class, still has one of the largest footprints in Asia.

Emirates dominates the region, but Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways also offer distinct first class experiences. Etihad’s First Apartment on the Airbus A380 remains one of the most luxurious cabins ever created, even if its availability is limited.

Qatar Airways offers first class on select long-haul services but places more emphasis on its Qsuite business class.

Photo: Qantas

Europe and Oceania

Lufthansa, Air France, SWISS, and British Airways highlight Europe’s diverse strategies. Air France maintains exclusivity, Lufthansa balances tradition with modernization, SWISS offers consistency, and British Airways bets on scale across its fleet.

Qantas offers first class primarily on its Airbus A380s, deployed on high-profile long-haul routes such as Sydney to London and Los Angeles. Though its footprint is small compared to Emirates, the product remains a status symbol for Australian travelers.

Photo: SWISS

Why First Class Still Exists

Despite improvements in business class and the rise of premium economy, first class continues to serve important purposes:

• It builds brand prestige and positions airlines as leaders in luxury travel.
• It attracts high-spending travelers, including executives, celebrities, and diplomats.
• It differentiates carriers in a competitive long-haul market.

Some airlines, such as Emirates and SWISS, believe these benefits outweigh the costs. Others, including American Airlines, are gradually reducing their first class presence, investing instead in enhanced business class cabins.

Photo: Etihad Airways

Looking Ahead

The future of first class appears to be split between two strategies. On one hand, large carriers like Emirates will continue to offer expansive first class operations, catering to thousands of passengers daily.

On the other hand, boutique airlines such as Air France and Garuda Indonesia will maintain small but ultra-luxurious cabins that cater to an elite few.

Airlines that find themselves in the middle may ultimately phase out the product, choosing instead to pour resources into business class innovation.

Regardless of approach, the fact remains that international first class continues to shape the image and reputation of airlines worldwide.

Photo: Live and Let’s Fly

Airlines Ranked by Total First Class Seats

Emirates 777 Retrofitted First Class Seat | Photo: Emirates

Conclusion

The global first class landscape is defined by extremes. Emirates leads with more than 2,200 seats across its fleet, while Garuda Indonesia offers just eight. British Airways, Lufthansa, and Korean Air maintain strong positions, while SWISS and Air France focus on consistency and exclusivity.

Far from being obsolete, international first class continues to evolve. Whether through sheer scale or boutique refinement, the product remains central to the identity of many of the world’s top airlines.

For travelers, this means the chance to experience everything from a private suite in the sky to a sprawling lounge that feels like an airport within an airport.

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