SWISS leisure subsidiary Edelweiss Air is in the process of overhauling its long haul fleet, as the airline replaces its Airbus A340-300s with Airbus A350-900s. The airline acquired these A350s from LATAM, and has initially maintained the same interiors, with plans to retrofit the aircraft at a later point.
There’s now an interesting update, as the Zurich-based airline has announced details of its new A350 cabins, plus the timeline with which this work will be done.
In this post:
Edelweiss unveils all-new Airbus A350 cabin interiors
Edelweiss has just unveiled the details of the cabins we can expect onboard all of the carrier’s A350s. The new cabins have the motto “More room to feel good,” with the idea being to “combine a modern cabin design with high-quality materials, a calming color palette, and state-of-the-art technology.” Here’s how the design inspiration is described:
The elegant and modern design of the new aircraft livery, featuring darker shades of red and blue and the characteristic red wave pattern, is reflected in the interior. Inspired by comfortable, inviting sofas, the interior exudes a sense of calm while simultaneously conveying a high-quality and contemporary feel. This inspiration is complemented by elements of contemporary Swiss architecture. Reduced forms, clean lines, and selectively used patterns define the cabin’s appearance. Fine details and high-quality workmanship underscore the premium standard in all travel classes.
Compared to the previous cabin, the color scheme has been deliberately reduced. This conscious reduction creates a sense of calm and harmony. Shades of blue, in their various forms, characterize the overall appearance.
So, what can we expect onboard? Let’s start from the back of the plane, and work our way forward.
As you’d expect, there’s not all that much to say about economy, other than Edelweiss emphasizing that seats offer approximately three centimeters more legroom compared to the previous cabin, as well as a greater seat tilt angle, intended to increase comfort. As is standard on the A350, the cabin will be in a 3-3-3 layout.
Premium economy will consist of 28 seats, in a 2-3-2 configuration. Edelweiss will offer a hard-shell seat, similar to those used by other Lufthansa Group airlines. In terms of soft product, premium economy will offer a welcome drink, an expanded meal service served on china and a tablecloth, alcoholic drinks, noise canceling headphones, and more.
Business class will be in a 1-2-1 configuration, with the airline finally offering direct aisle access from all seats. It would appear that the airline has opted for the Thompson Aero Vantage XL product, but without a door. This is similar to what you’ll find on ITA Airways, Virgin Atlantic, etc.
The airline will also be introducing a “business class plus” product, in the form of the Edelweiss Business Suite. This will be in the first row of the cabin, with these seats also featuring privacy doors. These business class suites will feature larger 32″ entertainment monitors, plus a larger footwell for placing your feet during the flight.
The updated A350s will also feature improved technology throughout, including free Starlink Wi-Fi (a Lufthansa Group initiative), 4K screens with bluetooth audio connectivity, an updated inflight entertainment system with over 400 movies and TV shows, a 3D flight map, and an external camera. The airline will also offer wireless charging in premium economy and business class, as well as USB-A and USB-C ports with 60 watts of power throughout the cabin.
When will Edelweiss’ Airbus A350s be retrofitted?
Edelweiss has a fleet of five Airbus A350-900s, so when will they be getting new cabin interiors?
- The first aircraft with new cabins will enter service in December 2026, with flights bookable as of the summer of 2026
- Further converted A350s will follow gradually in January through July 2027, with all planes being equipped with the new cabins by the summer of 2027
One of the nice things about having a small fleet is how quickly you can reconfigure all planes, so it sounds like the entire fleet should go from the old cabins to the new cabins in a period of around seven months. That’s awesome!
Bottom line
Edelweiss Air plans to introduce all-new Airbus A350 cabins, with the rollout expected between late 2026 and the middle of 2027. We’ll see new products across the plane, with the most exciting addition being a new business class seat, plus a new business class suite concept. On top of that, technology will be hugely improved across cabins, ranging from bluetooth audio to Starlink Wi-Fi.
What do you make of these Edelweiss A350 cabin updates?
Ben, another A350 post? Those Boeing fanboys will be out in force later, spitting venom and crying into their beer …. :-)
How is it possible that Edelweiss have a much better product compared to Swiss, in what is supposedly a full service legacy carrier...just wow!
I wish Swiss upgraded to this J class.
@Likes-to-fly
Lufthansa put Swiss in a mess.