Swiss Air Lines reveals cabin, plans for its new Boeing 777-300ERs

(Swissair)

Swiss International Air Lines has revealed its layout and route plans for its new Boeing 777-300ER jets. The carrier has ordered nine of the wide-body planes, which will begin arriving to Swiss next year.

Swiss says its new 777-300ERs will be "gradually assimilated into the fleet from the beginning of next year." They'll fly with 340 seats, including eight in first class, 62 in business class and 270 in coach. Swiss is calling the 777-300ER its new "flagship" aircraft and says it will have a fully redesigned cabin interior.

Beginning with its 2016 summer schedule Swiss plans to put its new 777s on its routes between Switzerland and Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Bangkok. The carrier adds San Francisco, São Paulo and Tel Aviv will also receive Boeing 777 service several times a week. Swiss' media information also lists New York and Montreal as 777 destinations during a "phase-in" period for the aircraft.

(Swissair)

In addition to the cabin overhaul, Swiss says the planes will feature broadband in-flight internet.

"With our new Boeing 777-300ERs we will be setting new benchmarks in terms of our guests' overall comfort and travel experience," SWISS CEO Harry Hohmeister says in a statement. "And on top of that, with their state-of-the-art engines, our new twinjets will give us substantial savings in fuel consumption and carbon emissions terms."

Swiss will use its 777-300ERs to begin phasing out its 15 older, four-engine Airbus 340s. Six of the A340s replaced by the 777s will be returned to their lessor while another three will shift to the fleet of Swiss Air's leisure subsidiary Edelweiss.

First class

Swiss touts a first-class seat that "can be transformed into one's own private suite and includes a 32-inch screen, the largest in the industry." The carrier says first class passengers "will also enjoy electrically-adjustable window blinds and their own personal wardrobe."

 

(Swissair)

Business class

The business class cabin allows each customer to adjust the seat-cushion firmness individually. The seats also convert into 6'7 lie-flat beds that can easily accommodate even tall passengers.

Economy class
 
Swiss did not follow the lead of many other international carriers by introducing a new premium economy class. Still, Swiss promises coach-class fliers "a new air travel experience" with large entertainment screens and a self-service area offering drinks and snacks for customers looking for something in between meal service. A substantial downside, however, is the carrier's "high-density" 3-4-3 seating configuration.

(Ben Mutzabaugh - Today in the Sky)