Finnair has unveiled new business-class seating and a new premium-economy cabin that will take to the skies onboard its fleet of long-haul aircraft this spring.
The products are the result of a €200 million, four-year-long investment in the airline’s customer experience, which also will deliver a refreshed economy class.
Flights featuring the new seating will go on sale from March with the products making their debut on services from Helsinki to Asia this spring. The airline's complete long-haul fleet will be fitted with the new seating by the end of 2023.
The new business-class AirLounge seat has been developed with Collins Aerospace, with Finnair the launch customer. The contoured, cocoon-like shell seat is designed to maximize ‘comfort, space and freedom to move’ and does away with ‘complicated seat mechanisms’ and recline positions.
Seats are in a 1-2-1 configuration with dividers between the central seats that can be lowered for passengers travelling together and come with 18-inch screens, noise-canceling headphones, wireless charging, and power and USB points. Inflight service will include an up to six-course meal together with another lighter meal.
The new premium-economy cabin will feature 2-4-2 seating on A350s and 2-3-2 on A330s, with a maximum of 26 of the Vector Premium seats in the dedicated cabin. All seats have an industry standard 38-inch pitch, plus an eight-inch recline, 13-inch screens, power and charging points, and laptop stowage.
Finnair CEO Topi Manner said the launch of the product was “perfect timing.”
“We are gradually coming out of the pandemic and seeing more people traveling. This is the rebirth of Finnair and allows us to attract completely new customers as well as our very loyal ones,” he added.
“The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on our industry, but it has not changed our ambition to offer modern premium experience as we continue to be the first choice for travelers connecting Europe and Asia.”
Manner also said the premium-economy product could be deployed on some European routes, naming London as a potential destination.
In total, Finnair will fit 19 A350s and eight A330s with the new products, with the rollout due for completion by the end of 2023. The airline already has taken delivery of two aircraft with the new products, which will be deployed immediately but will not yet be accompanied by the airline’s new service and catering concept.
A350s will comprise either 43 seats in business class, 24 in premium economy and 211 in economy, or 30, 26 and 265 seats respectively. A330 aircraft will feature 28 business-class seats, 21 premium-economy seats and 230 economy seats.
Originally published by BTN Europe.