The design of SWISS’s upcoming Airbus A350, which includes an extended premium economy class, has been confirmed. The carrier’s current fleet of four A340 aircraft will be replaced by the first of five A350 aircraft starting in 2025. 242 seats in total—156 in economy, 38 in premium economy, 45 in business class, and three in first class suites—will be available on the A350s.
The Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A340-300 aircraft operated by SWISS have 24 and 21 premium economy seats, respectively, however, the new premium economy cabin is substantially larger. Specifically among leisure travelers, the airline claimed that it was “responding to the growing demand for air travel in the premium segment.”
However, the carrier’s first-class service will be reduced as a result of the larger premium economy cabin; current long-haul aircraft have eight first-class seats.
Launched in 2021, SWISS’s premium economy seat was first installed on its fleet of 12 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft before being retrofitted onto its A340s early this year.