SWISS International Air Lines (SWISS) is introducing a premium economy class on its long-haul aircraft fleet from spring 2021, to further strengthen its position as a premium air carrier.

In a first step here, the additional travel class will be available in a 24-seat section on its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. In the medium term, the new travel product will be extended to the entire SWISS long-haul fleet.

For Economy Class travellers seeking more inflight comfort, the new product will offer a totally new air travel experience. SWISS will be investing some CHF40 million ($40.2 million) in installing the new seating class on its Boeing 777 fleet.

The additional class of travel will supplement the three existing classes – First, Business and Economy – from spring 2021. The new product will initially be available on the company’s Boeing 777-300ERs, with each aircraft offering 24 Premium Economy seats. In the medium term, the new product should be extended to the entire SWISS long-haul fleet.

Premium Economy will offer a totally new air travel experience. The new class of travel will feature a newly developed seat providing extensive legroom and movement. “All in all, our Premium Economy Class travellers will enjoy a substantially stronger sense of personal space,” confirms Tamur Goudarzi Pour, SWISS’s chief commercial officer.

In introducing the new class of travel, SWISS is responding to a growing demand for an air travel product between Economy and Business Class. The decision to offer the new seating class has also been encouraged by the positive experiences with such a product at Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines, SWISS’s sister companies within the Lufthansa Group.

SWISS will embark on the cabin conversion work required in winter 2020/21, and the new Premium Economy Class product will be available from spring 2021.