Airspace cabin on SWISS A320neos
Airspace bins can hold 40 percent more volume than conventional bins
The first SWISS A320neo equipped with the new Airbus Airspace cabin was delivered at the beginning of this month. Key features of the new cabin concept include substantially larger overhead bins, an advanced lighting system that can be aligned to human biorhythms and enhanced seating comfort.
The new Airspace cabin features larger overhead baggage bins that offer approximately 40 percent more volume than their conventional counterparts. The new bins can accommodate bags up to 61 x 40 x 25 centimeters. They also hold up to four such carry-on cases (instead of the present three) by enabling them to be stowed vertically in the bin. The “human centric lighting” can be aligned to travelers’ biorhythms. Depending on the time of day or night, the system will bathe the cabin warm reds through graduated intermediate tones all the way to cooler blue hues.
Airspace has slimmer cabin sidewalls offering more space, especially at shoulder height. The lavatories are easier to use for travelers with disabilities, and have also been specifically equipped with antimicrobial surfaces for better hygiene protection.
“As a premium air carrier, we continue to strive to offer our customers the highest possible quality standards, even in the present crisis times,” explains SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour, in a recent announcement. “And Airbus’s advanced and innovative new Airspace cabin concept for our short-haul travelers is making a key contribution to all these endeavors. We are truly pleased to be able to offer our customers even greater inflight comfort, in the form of more space for their carry-on baggage and a new lighting concept that is specifically tailored to their biorhythm needs.”
Aircraft HB-JDD has been named Elm after the Swiss alpine village which is home to the ‘SWISS Altitude 1150’ mineral water that the airline serves on board. HB-JDE, another A320neo which was delivered a few days later and which bears the name Mürren, is also equipped with the advanced new Airspace cabin.
The aircraft will be deployed throughout SWISS’s European route network. The first commercial flight of a SWISS A320neo with the new Airspace cabin is scheduled for later this month.
SWISS has now taken delivery of five new Airbus A320neo and two new A321neo aircraft. The remaining 18 Airbus A32Xneos on order – twelve A320neos and six A321neos – will join the SWISS fleet between now and 2025. The ‘neos’ (which stands for new engine option) are replacing older SWISS aircraft of the A320 family.
