Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) presented its first aircraft to be equipped with its new Premium Economy Class at Zurich Airport today. The aircraft, Boeing 777-300ER registration HB-JNH, will be deployed on SWISS’s Zurich-Miami services from the beginning of March onwards.
In an initial step, SWISS’s new Premium Economy Class will be successively installed in all 12 of its Boeing 777-300ERs. After Miami, the next SWISS destinations to be served with SWISS Premium Economy-equipped aircraft will be San Francisco on the US West Coast from mid-April and São Paulo in Brazil from the end of April. Premium Economy will be available on all of SWISS’s Boeing 777-300ER routes from the end of May onwards.
During the introductory phase for the new class of travel, customers will be offered for-a-fee upgrades to SWISS Premium Economy if it is available on their flight, either when they check in or at the departure gate.
A newly-developed seat for more privacy and comfort
On the Boeing 777-300ER the new SWISS Premium Economy Class will offer 24 latest-generation seats from manufacturer ZIM. The comfortable seats, with fabrics provided by the Bern-based Lantal company, feature a hardshell design that enables them to be easily reclined at no inconvenience to the passenger behind. SWISS is the first airline in the Lufthansa Group to offer its customers this newly-developed ZIM Premium Economy seat.
A sustainable amenity kit and further benefits in the air and on the ground
For greater inflight comfort, SWISS Premium Economy Class travelers are given a complimentary amenity kit. The kit, which is provided by the Skysupply company, makes innovative use of kraft paper and paper pulp in its contents to minimize plastics use. “We put a strong emphasis at SWISS on making the whole travel chain as sustainable as possible,” explains CCO Tamur Goudarzi Pour, “because we don’t just want to be a premium carrier for our guests: we want to live up consistently to all our responsibilities to the climate and to society, too.” SWISS Premium Economy Class travelers are also provided with quality noise-reducing headphones that will further enhance their experience of the inflight audio and video entertainment available on their 15.6-inch at-seat screen.
SWISS’s inflight culinary offering has also been specially modified to accommodate the new class of travel. SWISS Premium Economy guests receive a refreshing welcome drink and are offered a choice of three hot meals.
SWISS Premium Economy travelers can check in two pieces of baggage of up to 23 kilos each – twice the registered baggage allowance for regular Economy Class travel. They also enjoy discounted access to the SWISS Business Lounges at Zurich and Geneva airports and to Zurich Airport’s SWISS Arrival Lounge.