Swiss A340 Cabin Refresh Project Complete

Updated: June 15, 2021

Published: January 21, 2020

Swiss’ long haul fleet consists of A330s, A340s, and 777s. The carrier’s 777s have featured their most updated first and business class products since they were delivered. I’ve reviewed Swiss’ 777-300ER first class from Zurich to Los Angeles, and Swiss’ 777-300ER business class from San Francisco to Zurich.

On the other end of the spectrum, up until early 2019, Swiss’ A340-300s have featured their most outdated cabins. The airline has five of these planes in their fleet, and they didn’t feature the same product in any cabin as the 777.

That has finally changed. In early 2019, Swiss began the process of refreshing their A340-300 fleet, and that process is now complete. That means all Swiss A340s now feature new cabins.

With the refurbishment, Swiss has new seats in all three cabins, new in-flight entertainment systems, internet connectivity, new galleys, and comprehensive modernization of the entire interior, including a new lighting concept.

Swiss operates their A340s on flights to Boston, Johannesburg, Shanghai, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo.

Here are some pictures of the new interiors, including in first class, business class, and economy:

The new interiors look excellent. In economy the A330 and A340 are a joy to fly, given the 2-4-2 configuration (which is better than the 3-4-3 configuration on many other planes).

While most airlines are retiring the A340-300 (it’s not fuel efficient and has been around for a long time), it’s interesting to see Swiss continue to invest in the plane. For what it’s worth, Swiss’ average age for the A340-300 is just over 15 years, which isn’t especially old.

In 2021, Swiss will even be installing premium economy seats on the A340s. It’s kind of weird to see them do this project in two phases, but I guess that’s just how the timing worked out, since Swiss hasn’t yet started the process of rolling out premium economy on any planes.

Has anyone flown one of these refreshed A340s yet?

More discussion »

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Sam Guest

October 15, 2020, 10:57 pm

Not sure why you think it looks so great. theyre installing new business class seats that don't even offer all aisle access in 2020? This is not industry leading by any means. Whatever happened to that new business class that earned LH five stars from skytrax? why aren't we seeing anything like that given that they are refurbing the whole cabin...

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Speedbird Guest

January 22, 2020, 2:41 pm

@Steve There should be a government carbon tax per tons of co2 emissions on airlines. If that happens, I can guarantee we would see the market move to fewer flights with larger more efficient aircraft: Instead of 3 A321s a day on a route, we would see 1 787. Instead of 2 787s, we would see one 779. Etc etc

Steve Guest

January 22, 2020, 3:17 am

I love the A340, wonderful aircraft that in almost 30 years has never killed one single person aboard. And to all of You who inhaled that carbon efficient idology: there is no gain for nature at all, because once an airline has them they increase their fleet size and open up new routes - the effect is more emissions than ever before in total. What makes it even worse is people flying around a lot more, often even for no reason, no problem, it's 'green' now. It's the same with cars: the more efficient they get the bigger and heavier they get and the more people are on the streets with their white (or green?) washed oh-so-good conscience. No gain at all for nature, just for manufacturers and airlines... Reality bites, doesn't it?

Lukas Member

January 22, 2020, 1:47 am

@Ryan The inflation system that LX and other use is crap. On more than 60% of the flights I’ve taken with SK, LX, LH, OS and AC (all of which use the air inflation system), the system has been broken and air has deflated from parts of the seat or the seat altogheter, basically ruining the experience of flying biz. I’ve reported all incidents and usually get a couple of hundred euros in compensation.

glenn t Diamond

January 21, 2020, 9:13 pm

Swiss fit-outs all have a particular look. The squared off everything with faux wood panelling has the look of 1980's semi-open offices, or a call centre. Might appeal to the neat freaks who have all their pencils on their desk precisely parallel and nothing out of place. I think it's Boring.

Swiss A340 Cabin Refresh Project Complete

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