Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is introducing a new and more personalised long-haul experience, which CEO Dieter Vranckx describes as “the most comprehensive cabin renewal in the history of our company”.
Named ‘SWISS Senses’, the programme involves retrofitting redesigned cabins across all classes on the airline’s long-haul aircraft fleet from 2025 onwards (A330-300s followed by B777-300ERs), and line-fitting the cabins on the new A350-900s joining the fleet.
Starting at the front of the aircraft, the airline is not just retaining first class, but upgrading the experience to four private suites with 1.8m-high walls and sliding doors. In-suite comforts will include a 77cm-wide seat, 2.4 sq.m of footspace, an ottoman for companion dining, a spacious personal wardrobe, a large table, seat heating and cooling, a wireless charging station and a 27in IFE display that stretches across the width of the space.
The centre first-class suite can be configured to suit two persons travelling together and features a 116cm double seat width, 3.4 sq.m of space and a 43in 4K IFE display.
The trim and finish scheme is inspired by the thermal spring and hotel complex in Vals, located in Switzerland’s Canton Graubünden. The feel of the famous site is translated into the cabin through a slate-black exterior for the suite, and a green interior that alludes to the spring’s fresh and cooling water, complemented with wood trim.
A spacious new washroom has also been developed for the new SWISS First cabin.
SWISS worked with the PriestmanGoode studio on the new first class, premium economy and economy cabin designs, following a brief of “warm minimalism”. Daniel MacInnes, director of PriestmanGoode explained: “Working with the SWISS team we built a look and feel that was inspired by the country’s DNA, especially from the natural landscape, but also from the heritage in design and architecture and this helps define the new SWISS Senses cabins”. Particular influences were Swiss architects such as Le Courbusier and Peter Zumthor.
In the first-class cabin, the scheme is seen in the warmth of natural oak in the doors, burgundy in the high-quality materials, and indirect lighting, all of which are intended to contribute to an atmosphere that feels inviting and calm.
You can see a few of the cabin design influences in THIS VIDEO.
Luxury options in business class
Lufthansa recently revealed its new business class, with seven seating options. SWISS, another airline in the Lufthansa Group, continues the theme of being able to meet a wide range of customer wishes and needs. In addition to ‘classic’ business-class seats, the new cabin offers further seating options such as private seats with a sliding door (all seats will have 1.14m-high shells), ‘throne’ seats, seats with extra-long beds, and double seats for passengers travelling together. The A330 will have 43 business-class seats.
All the seats will feature direct aisle access, seat heating and cooling and a wireless charging station. The cabin is trimmed in claret and anthracite materials to help create a cosy and intimate ambience.
All travel classes will also feature new human-centric lighting systems to help alleviate jet lag, and a new inflight entertainment (IFE) system with 17.3in screens and connection options for customer’s personal devices.
Premium economy: tried and trusted
One travel class will remain familiar: Premium Economy Class. SWISS introduced its premium economy cabins last year, which will be retained. SWISS was the first airline in the Lufthansa Group to introduce the new premium economy seat (a customised ZIMprivacy (PC-02) seat from ZIM Aircraft Seating) which is 18.1 to 18.9in (46-48cm) wide and fitted at a 39in (99cm) pitch. The A330s will be fitted with 21 premium economy seats.
Economy class: constructed for greater seat pitch
The economy-class cabins will be fitted with new seats, billed as being more comfortable and functional than the current models, with a sculpted shape that increases legroom in the 31.1in to 33.8in (79-86cm) range of pitch – the greatest pitch being in the first row of seats. Every seat will be 18.9in to 19.7in (48-50cm) wide and feature a 13.3in high-resolution IFE screen, six-way headrest, an amenity storage facility and a USB port. The A330s will be fitted with 159 economy-class seats.
“With ‘SWISS Senses’ we’re making our customers’ air travel an even more personal and more sensual experience,” adds SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour. “With its deep devotion to detail, our new long-haul cabin will give our passengers a particular feeling of warmth and well-being – a cosy and comfortable yet also functional environment in all our travel classes.”
