LONDON -- British Airways has announced an $800 million plan to revamp its in-flight services, including beds for those travelling first class.

And the airline's regional general manager for the Americas Mr. Peter Spencer told The Royal Gazette -- which was the only media from Bermuda at the announcement at the Olympia trade centre in London -- that Bermuda can expect to begin benefiting from the new services next Spring.

"By listening to our customers we have a real insight into their true needs and priorities,'' British Airways chairman Sir Colin Marshall said in announcing the scheme which was unveiled in a splashy light and video show before hundreds of foreign journalists.

"We have put them into the driving seat of our service department. They have told us what they want from an airline and we have responded, right around the world.'' The wide-reaching improvement plan -- to be known in the airline's future marketing campaigns as "Insight'' -- will bring changes in terms of in-flight service and cabin design, including first-class seating modules that can function as private meeting areas or full-size beds, and a new "raid the larder'' service in which club-class passengers can snack as they please.

British Airways will offer its new services to Bermuda on refitted DC-10s.

Mr. Spencer told The Royal Gazette : "The date for Bermuda is currently April. It should definitely be in place by the summer.'' British Airway's "Insight'' programme, which comes on the heels of a successful and similarly designed revamping of services on the carrier's routes in Europe, will likely be popular with Bermudians who have made the airline's Island runs a profitable venture of late.

Unlike its economy service to Bermuda, The Royal Gazette understands most of British Airway's club and first-class seating is regularly filled to capacity, largely with local business travellers.

The airline's announcement yesterday was consequently expected to cement its popularity among people who must travel on business and are therefore swayed by service improvements in terms of the airlines they fly.

During the announcement the airline, that has been dubbed "the world's favourite'' in print and television advertisements campaigns, admitted that the new "Insight'' scheme would reduce the number of first-class seats on most airplanes by four or five. But it added that it hoped to make up for the reduction in terms of yield and increased market share.

The airline plans to implement "Insight'' to the 75 countries it services over the next three years. It also plans to target its economy service for improvement after this.