All Cathay Pacific flights to and from Australia will boast the airline’s new business class by January next year.

Brisbane saw the debut of the new business class seats at the start of this month, joining Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in the rollout of the highly-regarded seats, which replace the tight confines of the high-walled ‘cubicle class’ sometimes colourfully if uncharitably referred to as ‘coffin class’.

“The roll out will continue until January next year when 100% of our international fleet will have that product” says Toby Smith, Cathay Pacific’s General Manager, Product.

What goes into making a great business class seat? Here are seven things you didn't know about Cathay Pacific's new business class.

 Of course it’s not just the pointy end of the plane which gets an revamp.

Each of the aircraft will also sport Cathay’s all-new premium economy cabin (show above) plus the revamped and now actually reclining international economy seats (seen below).

Although Smith’s March 2013 target encompasses Cathay’s entire international-grade fleet of 31 Boeing 777s and 23 Airbus A330s, he once again confirmed that the airline’s fleet of aging Boeing 747s wouldn’t be getting an upgrade to the new business class seats.

However, the existing seats will receive a refresh, Smith told Australian Business Traveller.

“It’s a mid-life upgrade of colour and trim. We’re changing the fabric, changing the seat cushions, basically enhancing that product for the rest of its life.” That lifespan will stretch to 2016, when Cathay expects to retire its last Boeing 747.

Cathay’s Airbus A340s “are also getting the refresh, and they’ll be around the fleet for a little bit longer, probably 2018 to early 2019” Smith forecasts.

If you're heading to Hong Kong in February, you'll be able to check out Cathay's newly-renovated The Wing First Class lounge – click here for the details!

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