EVA Air has just unveiled details of its new premium economy, which will debut on the carrier’s Boeing 787s, as flagged by Sean Cudahy.
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EVA Air Boeing 787s finally getting premium economy
In recent years, we’ve seen premium economy become increasingly popular with both airlines and air travelers. This is happening as economy keeps getting less comfortable, while business class gets more comfortable, and some passengers are looking for something in the middle.
Interestingly, EVA Air claims to have been the world’s first airline to launch premium economy, back in 1992, “leading the airline industry and setting the pace for widespread adoption of this innovative cabin.”
There’s one very strange quirk, though — EVA Air doesn’t currently have premium economy on its 787s, even though the planes are primarily used for long haul routes. I’d be fascinated to know the logic for that. Regardless, that will soon be changing, as EVA Air has started reconfiguring its 787-9s with premium economy, with the first aircraft expected to enter service soon. Oddly, 787-10s won’t be reconfigured, and will continue to be delivered without the cabin.
Once reconfigured, EVA Air’s 787-9s will go from having 304 seats (26 business class seats and 278 economy seats) to having 278 seats (26 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 224 economy seats). In other words, the airline is swapping 54 economy seats for 28 premium economy seats. That seems like it’ll be good for yields — rarely are all economy seats full, and on top of that, airlines can generally generate at least twice as much revenue from selling a premium economy ticket vs. an economy ticket.
The first reconfigured Dreamliner is expected to enter service on March 1, 2025, flying between Taipei (TPE) and Jakarta (CGK). Before the end of 2025, we should see premium economy available on 787 routes to Milan (MXP), Munich (MUC), San Francisco (SFO), and Vienna (VIE).
EVA Air’s new premium economy seat is impressive
Not only are EVA Air’s 787s getting premium economy, but the airline is debuting an all-new premium economy seat on these aircraft. EVA Air is introducing one of the industry’s best premium economy seats, featuring 42″ of pitch. The 28 seats are spread across four rows, in a 2-3-2 configuration.
Seats have a cradle design, so that they move forward a bit when reclining. Seats feature 15.6″ personal televisions, charging ports (AC and USB), and more. There’s also added storage, including a personal electronic device holder on the tray table, plus a water bottle holder.
Honestly, this looks like a huge upgrade over EVA Air’s existing premium economy on the 777, which is in a 2-4-2 configuration, with 38″ of pitch and 11″ entertainment monitors. That says nothing of the more modern and stylish look you’ll find on the 787.
You’ve gotta love how competitive aviation in Taiwan is. The fact that there are three global airlines based there means that airlines really have to fight hard to win business. Seeing premium economy with 42″ of pitch almost makes it reminiscent of business class back in the day.
Bottom line
EVA Air is finally adding premium economy to its 787-9 fleet. Given that the airline was the first to introduce premium economy over 30 years ago, it’s interesting that it wasn’t installed on 787s in the first place. What’s even more exciting about this development is that EVA Air is rolling out a brand new premium economy seat, which ups the bar when it comes to spaciousness.
What do you make of EVA Air adding premium economy to 787s, and of the new seat?
I like how we are coming full circle to where aircraft cabins were in the 90s: Large first class cabins without extravagant amenities, Business Class with cradle seats, and economy
That has got to be the most handsome cabin I have seen in a long time. I wish North American carriers would pull off such an impressive cabin. The seats honestly look nicer and more comfortable than Delta One.
Asian carriers tend to invest more in their cabins, from premium materials and colours to added features. They would pick off-the-shelf, strip it down to the shell, and build it back up with their own signature colours, materials, creature comforts, etc.
American carriers tend to just pick something off the shelf, slap their own colours and call it a day.
Let's use CXs A350, AAs premium economy seat as they use the same exact seat.
...Asian carriers tend to invest more in their cabins, from premium materials and colours to added features. They would pick off-the-shelf, strip it down to the shell, and build it back up with their own signature colours, materials, creature comforts, etc.
American carriers tend to just pick something off the shelf, slap their own colours and call it a day.
Let's use CXs A350, AAs premium economy seat as they use the same exact seat.
Stock: https://www.collinsaerospace.com/what-we-do/industries/commercial-aviation/cabin/seating/business-class/miq
CX: https://thedesignair.net/2016/06/01/cathay-pacific-a350-refresh-and-refine-already-leading-cabin-products/
AA: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/american-airlines-premium-economy
I'm sure you can figure out the difference ;)
I guess this is news. One of the bloggers booked me on Eva Royal Laurel LHR BKK on my 1st award RTW. I remember emailing with him...such a great product. That was in 2016. In the past 2 weeks, I've flown KUL TPE and MNL TPE PEK in Royal Laurel. Not much of a product now except friendly FAs. Poor seat, poor IFE, etc. Hopefully Eva will also upgrade its J product.
-Most of the 777s along with the upcoming A35Ks will be getting new seats. (Probably the same exact ones) (Older frames will be retired or converted to freighters)
-The A321ceos will be replaced by neos
-The A330s will be replaced by the 787s which are still new.
https://onemileatatime.com/news/eva-air-upgrading-boeing-777-cabins/
https://thepointsguy.com/news/eva-air-new-business-suites-777-cabin-refresh/
I think that it looks great. The all new look of premium economy on the 787-9 is rather pleasing to the eye and looks really comfortable. I say, good job! What is going on with not having premium economy in their 787-10’s?
As mentioned below, it's primarily a regional a/c with the occasional Seattle, Vienna, and Brisbane thrown in. It just does not pay to offer premium economy on a low yielding market, let alone such a short flight, so you might as well pack in as many economy seats as possible that are guaranteed to be sold rather than rip out a few rows for a bigger but fewer seats that might not sell. Singapore is...
As mentioned below, it's primarily a regional a/c with the occasional Seattle, Vienna, and Brisbane thrown in. It just does not pay to offer premium economy on a low yielding market, let alone such a short flight, so you might as well pack in as many economy seats as possible that are guaranteed to be sold rather than rip out a few rows for a bigger but fewer seats that might not sell. Singapore is a perfect example of this.
I'm curious to see how China Airlines configures their 787s.
"This is happening as economy keeps getting less comfortable" - many "thanks" to Recaro and their CL3710 model for this race to the bottom. It's Recaro who sells their awful Y seats like hotcakes and stupid greediness of airlines who buy these seats like crazy. Kudos to those airlines who install Safran or Collins seats in their Y.
42 inch pitch is very generous.
These look like the same seats SQ uses in premium economy?
Different.
ZIM for the A380 and 77W, Safran for the A350.
https://thedesignair.net/2015/02/03/singapore-airlines-new-premium-economy-seat-unveiled/
With pitch in premium economy getting increasingly generous, I won't be surprised when someone revolutionizes premium economy with angled lie-flat seats. It's just a matter of who and when they'll flinch.
I think there is an airline who has the old VS upper class 'slide' as their premium economy seat?
Eva Air , was the first airline to introduce Premium Economy, it was called ‘Evergreen Deluxe’. I think BA followed a few years later with World Traveler plus
Looks like a business class seat you would get in the 90s-early 00s.
https://www.facebook.com/evaairwayscorpen/posts/today-in-history-december-12lets-review-this-historic-moment-on-december-12-1992/2286634468196059/
Yes - Eva was the first with Premium Economy in the 90s. BA was the first major airline to install premium economy? It was about 2000 - around the same time that BA introduced the first lie flat bed in J.
It's not a hard shell seat. It's Safran Z535i, a conventional recliner seat.
AirGo is the hard shell type PE seat from Safran, and it's installed on JAL. You'll see the difference when you compare EVA's new PE with JAL's.
Thanks S_Lee - thought I was going mad looking at the pictures and trying to spot the hard shell....
@ S_LEE -- Whoops, thanks you, fixed. Looks like it slides forward a bit, but indeed isn't a hard shell. Thanks.
The 787-10 is mostly ever only used on the SEA route for North America. And does get swapped out with the 787-9 somewhat frequently.
EVA tends to stick with 777 for everything else NA related.
BR actually uses the 787-10 for a lot of sense intra-Asia routes like Taipei to Tokyo (among one of the busiest international routes in the world), where premium economy would not be necessary for the short flights.
EVA will debut its premium economy fitted 787-9 on the Taipei Jakarta route on the 18th of Feb. until the end of Feb, the seats would be sold as economy seats.