The long-range Airbus A350 is one of today’s most advanced widebody aircraft. Now, Swiss-based Edelweiss Airlines is adding a luxurious new cabin interior to the A350 equation.
Edelweiss Airlines is a premium leisure carrier based in Zurich, flying to the world’s beautiful and exciting vacation destinations. Edelweiss Airlines is a subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), the airline of Switzerland, and is a member of the Lufthansa Group. Edelweiss launched in October, 1995, and celebrated its 30th anniversary last year.
To serve its short-haul destinations, Edelweiss is currently operating 15 Airbus A320s. In April Edelweiss will add the first of six Airbus A320neo aircraft with a longer range.
The leisure airline also operates a long-haul fleet, consisting of three Airbus A340 and four advanced Airbus A350 aircraft. By the end of 2026, there will be a total of six Airbus A350s in the fleet to ultimately replace the aging A340s.
Long-haul flyers on Edelweiss should enjoy the comfortable and technologically advanced new A350 cabin. Specially modified Airbus A350 aircraft are the choice of Singapore Airlines and Qantas for the world’s longest flights.
On Edelweiss, seats in the newly-redesigned A350 cabin are designed to provide “More room to feel good,” as the airline puts it. Whether you sit in Economy, Premium Economy or Business class, the seats offer three centimeters more legroom than the previous cabin. They also offer a greater seat tilt angle, to increase comfort on long journeys.
Edelweiss emphasizes the cabin changes are more than just a seat upgrade. The company’s marketing materials say the cabin “represents a consciously designed use of space that prioritizes relaxation, comfort, and a welcoming atmosphere.”
In addition to a cabin design designed to create more space in all travel classes, the new interior uses high-quality materials and a subtle color scheme for a calmer flight. The designers integrated elements of contemporary Swiss architecture, with reduced forms, clean lines, and selectively used patterns defining the cabin’s appearance.
The cabin conversions are being carried out by Lufthansa Technik in Malta. Economy seats are by Geven, Premium Economy seats by ZIM, and Business/Suite seats by Thompson. Edelweiss was the first airline in Europe to offer the advanced Thompson Vantage XL+ seat.
Like many airlines interesting in attracting good-paying customers, Edelweiss is both expanding its premium service offerings and increasing the proportion of premium seats on board.
Edelweiss Premium Economy features 28 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration with approximately one meter of legroom. Passengers get a high-quality hard-shell seat, similar to those used on other Lufthansa Group airlines.
In Edelweiss Premium Economy, guests get a welcome drink even before takeoff. During the flight, passengers enjoy an expanded food selection, served on china on a tablecloth. Noise-canceling headphones from Edelweiss Business Class provide added comfort.
Going upscale, the Edelweiss Business Suite is designed to provide maximum privacy for Business Class passengers. Edelweiss boasts that its Business section offers first-class comfort.
The continuous 1-2-1 seating configuration offers every guest direct aisle access. Approximately half of the seats are designed as double seats and are ideal for couples traveling together. The seats can be converted into a flatbed for restful sleep on long journeys.
And the Edelweiss Business Suite is designed that with the middle suites, the room divider can be individually adjusted, allowing the suite to be used flexibly for guests traveling together.
A special feature is the generous open foot area, which offers significantly more freedom of movement when lying down. Business Suite guests get a comfortable memory foam pillow and a mattress topper for restful sleep, as well as additional storage space for personal hand luggage.
And even the new Edelweiss Economy cabin is designed to impress ,with its blue woven fabrics and fine stitching detail on the seats.
Passengers in all classes get to experience free high-speed internet from Starlink, 4K entertainment screens with Bluetooth audio connectivity, and access to over 400 films and TV series. There is a power supply at every seat, and external cameras so passengers can watch the scenery. The A350 also boasts human-centric lighting to help passengers maintain their natural circadian rhythm on long flights.
“With the new Airbus A350, we seized the opportunity to rethink our entire cabin product and develop it with our guests’ well-being in mind,” says Bernd Bauer, CEO of Edelweiss. “Our aim was to create a space that exudes tranquility, is of high quality, and clearly positions itself as a premium product. The new cabin represents modern comfort, Swiss quality, and a contemporary long-haul holiday flight experience.”
The first A350 aircraft with the new cabin will enter service in December 2026. Flights will be bookable from summer 2026. More Airbus A350s with the new cabin will follow in January, February, April, May, and July 2027.
Edelweiss has 105 destinations including four U.S. airports, Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, and Tampa Bay. Flying out of Zurich, Switzerland’s largest airport, Edelweiss offer 26 long-haul destinations in 17 countries, in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Edelweiss short-haul flights serve 79 destinations in 24 countries.
Edelweiss is not a member of Miles & More, but if you book your Edelweiss flight via swiss.com, you can collect and redeem miles there. All Edelweiss flights are codeshare flights with SWISS.
Credit: Forbes
