British Airways adopts new crew rest policy on select long-haul aircraft

British Airways has introduced a new crew rest policy that allows cabin crew to use vacant passenger seats, including those in First Class and Club World, on selected long-haul flights operated by aircraft without dedicated crew bunk facilities.

According to aviation publications, the policy follows discussions between the airline and the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (BASSA). It applies to certain aircraft where cabin crew have traditionally used designated attendant seats for rest during flights.

If no passenger seats are available because a flight is full, crew members will continue to use the existing high-comfort attendant seats located near the aircraft doors.

Policy applies to aircraft without bunk facilities

The revised arrangement affects parts of British Airways' long-haul fleet that were delivered without crew bunk compartments.

The aircraft include:

• Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners currently in service.
• A subfleet of Boeing 777-200 aircraft operated without crew bunks.

Aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing offer crew bunk facilities as optional equipment on several widebody aircraft. Airlines choose whether to install them when ordering aircraft.

According to the report, British Airways opted not to install crew bunks on its existing 787-10 fleet, allowing space for three additional Economy Class seats. The airline has also operated several 777-200 aircraft without crew bunk facilities for many years.

Rest rules remain aligned with aviation regulations

The policy does not change existing crew fatigue regulations.

Under British and European aviation rules, dedicated crew bunk facilities are required only on longer-range flights where cabin crew must receive lie-flat rest in a private area to extend their permitted duty period under Flight Time Limitations.

The affected 787-10 and 777-200 aircraft are generally deployed on shorter long-haul routes where those regulatory requirements do not apply.

Under the new policy:

• Cabin crew may use any unoccupied passenger seat if available.
• Vacant seats in First Class, Club World or World Traveller may be used for rest.
• Crew can also use the bedding provided for the respective cabin.
• British Airways also plans to soft block selected Economy Class seats at the rear of the aircraft for crew rest when flights are not fully booked.

A soft block means the seats remain available for sale and are only reserved for crew if they remain unoccupied before departure.

Future aircraft to include crew bunks

According to the report, new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners scheduled for delivery later this year will be fitted with dedicated crew bunk facilities.

The existing aircraft cannot be retrofitted with crew bunks, making the revised rest policy a practical solution for the current fleet.

The report also noted that similar arrangements exist elsewhere in the industry. For example, United Airlines reserves designated Economy Class rows for cabin crew rest on long-haul aircraft that do not have bunk facilities.

The updated policy reflects how airlines continue to adapt operational procedures to meet crew rest requirements while working within the design limitations of existing aircraft.