Swiss unveils the interiors of its A350s: four classes and an extra-large Premium Economy

After announcing last March, The introduction of its new Swiss Sense booth. (which is a 'derived' customized from Lufthansa's Allegris) starting in 2025, the Swiss airline has unveiled the configuration of seats on board the Airbus A350-900s that will be the first to sport the new interiors.

However, the date is to be taken with caution given the misfortunes these booths are experiencing from when they were first introduced (well before covid) to when they will first go into service.

Two figures stand out among them all: the total number of seats, just 242. And the number of Premium Economy seats, which will be 38. Looking at the overall capacity, one cannot help but raise an eyebrow, noting that the Swiss A350s will carry between 50 and 60 fewer passengers than the A350-900s of all the other companies that have them in service.

Normally, that type of airplane, configured in two or three classes, carries about 300 passengers. Lufthansa, which owns Swiss, for example, has configured its A350-900s with 318 and 297 seats in three classes, and even the four-class 266-seat configuration still carries 24 more than Swiss's). But this should come as no surprise when one considers that, Traditionally, Swiss's aircraft (and Swissair's before) have enjoyed low-seat-density configurations. One remembers, for example, their three-class MD-11 carrying 235 passengers, compared with 280-290 for the other airlines that flew McDonnell Douglas' homegrown three-engine aircraft.

In the case of the A350-900, there will be four travel classes: a 3-seat First (the A340-300s it will replace have eight in two rows 1+2+1) in a 1+1+1 configuration, 45 seats in Business, 38 in Premium Economy and 156 in Economy Class. The 38 seats in premium exceed in number those available on both the Swiss carrier's A330s and A340s and the larger Boeing 777-300ER.

"With our new cabin concept, we will remain the only airline in the world to offer First Class on all long-haul aircraft. We will also increase the size of Premium Economy, which has proven extremely popular with our customers since its introduction in 2021," explained Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour.

Premium Economy seats are the model (customized according to the wishes of the Swiss carrier) ZIM PC-02 (ZimMagic+), with a seat width between 46 and 48 centimeters (18.1-18.9 inches). The distance between rows is 99 centimeters (39 inches). Each seat has a 15.6-inch (40-centimeter) 4k screen, an individual reading lamp, a wireless device for charging personal devices, and a small cocktail table for drinks. In all, Swiss is scheduled to receive five A350-900s, which will replace the four A340-300s currently in service.