Ethiopian Airlines isn’t exactly known for the consistency of its business class hard product. On its wide body aircraft, the airline already has five different business class seats, with a sixth new seat coming soon (to 787s). Well, you can now add yet another new seat to the fleet, along with a new 737 business class seat.
While the airline doesn’t score any points for consistency, at least it’s continuously elevating its product, so I suppose that’s good?
In this post:
Ethiopian Airlines and Collins Aerospace partner on new seats
Ethiopian Airlines is expanding its partnership with Collins Aerospace, which includes plans to introduce new business class seats on two types of aircraft that are already in the fleet. Here’s how Ethiopian Airlines Chief Operating Officer Retta Melaku describes this:
“As a customer-centric airline, we are thrilled to collaborate with Collins Aerospace and invest in products that would take our customers’ comfort and overall flight experience to the next level. By combining Collins’ technology such as the Elevation suites and Parallel Diamond seats with our onboard services, we are enhancing our passengers’ in-flight experience with superior comfort, privacy, and truly reflecting the essence of Ethiopian hospitality and innovation.”
Let’s cover the details of what’s changing…
Ethiopian A350s getting Elevation suites
Ethiopian intends to introduce the Collins Aerospace Elevation product in business class on 11 of its upcoming Airbus A350-900 deliveries (of the total of 17 of these planes that the airline has on order).
For context, the Elevation suite is a reverse herringbone seat with doors, so this will be the first time that Ethiopian has doors in business class. This is the same product that Malaysia Airlines has debuted on its Airbus A330-900neos.
This should be the new best business class at the airline, given that it’s a reverse herringbone seat with a door and updated tech, so it beats anything the airline currently has. Ethiopian also plans to introduce these seats on its Boeing 777-9s, though who knows when those will be delivered, so I wouldn’t put too much thought into that yet.
Unfortunately there aren’t plans to retrofit existing A350s with this product, meaning that the A350 fleet will have three different kinds of seats.
Ethiopian 737 MAXs getting Diamond seats
Ethiopian intends to introduce the Collins Aerospace Diamond product in business class on 56 of its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. So this should include future delivery 737 MAXs, as well as retrofitting some of the existing planes.
The Diamond seat is fully flat, and on a 737 MAX, would be in a 2-2 configuration. It’s actually the same seat that Ethiopian has on most of its A350s and 787s, and it’s also a popular narrow body business class, given how space efficient it is. Seats will convert into 78″ lie flat beds.
This is great to see, especially as Ethiopian increasingly plans to fly 737 MAXs on longer flights, including to some destinations in Europe. Given how widespread installation of this product will be, I’d say this is a major development, and the most exciting update here.
Bottom line
Ethiopian Airlines is partnering with Collins Aerospace on some new business class seats.
The airline plans to introduce the Elevation suite product on 11 upcoming Airbus A350-900s, plus Boeing 777-9s. These are reverse herringbone seats with doors and upgraded tech. Then the airline plans to introduce the Diamond seat product on 56 Boeing 737 MAX 8s. These are flat beds in a 2-2 configuration, so it’s upgrade over the recliners the airline currently has on these planes (and comparable to what you’ll find on most of the carrier’s 787s and A350s).
What do you make of Ethiopian Airlines’ business class updates?
I have flown on ET Business Class many times, and they are absolutely horrible: Old and dated seats and they often change aircraft types at the last moment without forewarning .....
Wasn't the original plan to partner with Adient Aerospace to develop a seat for all aircraft type (most especially the Boeing fleet).
I recall when the partnership was announced and they were supposed to start rolling out by 2026 new seats based on the Adient Ascent seats for the B787 and B777.
Yep that seems to have gone quiet around a year ago.
The A350s already have 3 different types of seats.
(1) Collins Diamond Parrallel on ET-ATQ through ET-AWP (14 frames)
(2) Safran Optima on ET-AYA through ET-AZN (6 frames 359) and ET-BAW through ET-BAZ (4 frames 351)
(3) Collins Super Diamond on ET-BCD and ET-BCE (2 frames ex-Sichuan Airlines)
I guess Ethiopian will be the second airline to install Collins Diamond parallel seats on a 737 (at least MAX)? The only one that I remember is Copa 737-9.
Actually there are already 7 different types of seats on the widebody fleet, and an 8th coming soon when ET-BCC (ex-Hainan 787-8 B-2723) enters the fleet by December. This will be the 9th type (or more) by the time it enters service.
Cant imagine lay flat seats on a 737! Personally, I wouldn't allow these Middle East, subsidized by oil, to fly in the US. It's unfair competition for our own domestic airlines who are burdened by that little necessity of making a profit to survive. These Middle East outfits can just throw money around, must be nice.
Well Ethiopia is in Africa...
Educate yourself well first.
Ignorance should be considered a capital sin.
Ed Bastians alt account
That’s exciting! There are decent Star Alliance partner redemptions via Aeroplan and United for like 80K/way in Business Class from the US to Africa, Asia, etc., on Ethiopian, which can be worthwhile when otherwise cash price tickets are $5K+. 1-2-1 seating far better than 2-2-2.
ANA offers the best rate in business class from the US to Africa using miles on Ethiopian. Good news is they just started allowing one way fares. Bad news cost went up and they still have a lot of restrictions, but I still utilize it frequently… why can’t ET replace the sloping J seats on some of the 787’s. Those are the worst in the fleet by a mile! But this is exciting!
I mean, they could install Qsuites on their A350s and you'll still face the last minute aircraft swaps they are so notorious for
Fun facts
Qatar does more aircraft swaps (per total number not percentage) than Ethiopian Airlines.
I just flew back and forth from Dulles to South Africa via Addis. We had pods in 3 out of 4 flights, the food was very good (especially the traditional Ethiopian course, amazing), probably the best airplane drip coffee I have ever had and lovely service. Even PJs. I would happily fly them again.
I flew NY to South Africa. The JFK to Addis flight is not fully flat in business class (at least on most days) - horrible experience. The Addis to Joburg plane was swapped last minute from a 787 to a 737 with recliner seats.
So no, Ethiopian is never my airline of choice, unless I need to get from South Sudan to Djibouti and have no other sensible options.
To each their own. For 80k United miles I thought it was great.
They now provide pajamas on long hauls. Now the only missing amenity is mattress pad.