Swiss leisure carrier Edelweiss is preparing a major upgrade of its long-haul product, unveiling new Airbus A350 interiors that significantly raise the airline’s premium offering with modern business class suites, a new Premium Economy cabin and 4K inflight entertainment throughout the aircraft.
The airline, part of Lufthansa Group, currently operates a small fleet of former LATAM Airbus A350-900 jets in a two-class layout, featuring a dated 2-2-2 business class cabin. That will change with the delivery of a new A350 later this year, which will introduce a three-class configuration and set the standard for the rest of the fleet.
The new aircraft will feature 32 all-aisle-access, 1-2-1 configured lie-flat seats in business class, including four front-row “biz-plus” suites. These are based on the VantageXL+ platform from Thompson Aero Seating, a widely regarded off-the-shelf product designed specifically for the A350 and Boeing 787.
Edelweiss says the aircraft will enter service in December 2026, with flights bookable from summer 2026. Its five in-service A350s will then be retrofitted with the new interiors on a phased schedule across January, February, April, May and July 2027. By summer 2027, the airline’s entire six-strong A350 fleet is expected to feature the new cabins.
Overall, the redesign sees Edelweiss remove economy class seats to add 30 additional premium seats per aircraft – two more in business class and 28 new Premium Economy seats – under the slogan “more room to feel good”.
Business class and business suites
The refreshed business class, branded Edelweiss Business, adopts a muted and more refined colour palette compared with the carrier’s current bright-blue interiors. Each seat offers direct aisle access, a 17.3-inch 4K IFE screen, wireless charging, universal power, USB-A and USB-C ports delivering up to 60 watts, and multiple personal storage spaces. Privacy is enhanced by an aisle-side shield.
At the front of the cabin, four Edelweiss Business Suites provide a step up in exclusivity. These seats feature sliding doors and a large 32-inch 4K screen. In the centre suites, an adjustable divider allows the space to be shared by passengers travelling together.
According to Thompson, key adaptations of the VantageXL+ for the A350 include expanded footwells, re-sculpted internal walls for increased knee and legroom, refined suite rails and improved screen positioning to enhance viewing comfort.
New Premium Economy cabin
Edelweiss is also introducing Premium Economy for the first time on its A350s. The cabin will feature 28 seats in a 2-3-2 layout, with a pitch of around one metre, or at least 39 inches. The hard-shell seats use a cradle-style recline that preserves legroom for passengers behind.
Premium Economy passengers will receive a welcome drink before take-off, an upgraded meal served on china with a tablecloth, complimentary alcoholic beverages, noise-cancelling headphones, wireless charging, USB-A and USB-C power, and 4K IFE.
Economy and overall design
Economy class will retain a nine-abreast configuration, avoiding a higher-density ten-abreast layout. Across all cabins, the airline has opted for a toned-down colour, materials and finish scheme, with conservative woven blues designed to create what Edelweiss describes as a calmer and more harmonious cabin environment.
The new interiors will be paired with an updated exterior livery, featuring darker shades of red and blue and a refreshed version of the airline’s signature red wave motif, visually aligning the aircraft’s exterior with its upgraded cabin design.
The move reflects a broader trend within the Lufthansa Group, as even leisure-focused airlines invest heavily in premium seating to meet rising demand and better align products across their networks.
