CATHAY PACIFIC Airways has taken delivery of a new Boeing 777-300ER that is the first aircraft to feature its Premium Economy Class product and new long-haul Economy Class seats. The aircraft, the airline’s 25th 777-300ER arrived at Hong Kong International Airport just as the airline received its fifth Boeing 747-8F from the manufacturer.

Speaking at the delivery Cathay Pacific chief operating officer Ivan Chu says “This is an important development for Cathay Pacific – another big step in our commitment to provide outstanding products and services to our passengers. We’re confident that both these new products will be winners, especially when combined with the famous Cathay Pacific service.”

As well as introducing a totally new seat and entertainment system, Cathay Pacific has designed the entire customer experience to be more special for its new Premium Economy Class passengers. To begin with, the new Premium Economy experience features a quieter, more spacious cabin than the traditional Economy Class with between 26 and 34 seats per aircraft. The seat pitch is 38 inches – six inches more than Economy Class – and the seat itself is wider and has a bigger recline. It has a large meal table, cocktail table, footrest, a 10.6-inch personal television, an in-seat power outlet, a multi-port connector for personal devices and extra personal stowage space.

Passengers on the ground will also benefit from priority check-in and boarding before Economy Class passengers and an increase in baggage allowance from 20kg to 25kg.

On board, Passengers will also receive an environmentally friendly amenity kit with dental kit, socks, eyeshade and earplugs as well as larger pillows and noise-cancelling headsets.  

Passengers can book the Premium Economy seats for flights departing from April 1, onwards which will initially be featured on some of the selected flights on the Sydney, Toronto, Vancouver, and New York routes. In May, Premium Economy will be featured on some of the selected flights on the London route.

Additional markets will come online later in the year including Adelaide, Los Angeles, Melbourne and San Francisco in August, Frankfurt in September and Brisbane and Mumbai in October.