air france

Air France has unveiled its new Economy and Premium Economy cabins, which will be featured on its 15 A330s.

The aircraft will be refitted from January 2019, with the cabins featuring a new colour scheme and additional products and services.

Economy seats will have a larger width of 44cm, reinforced ergonomic foam, 79cm of legroom, a larger tray table and a wider 11.7-inch touch screen for in-flight entertainment. They will also feature a USB slot and an individual electric plug, and wifi is being installed on all Air France aircraft.

In Premium Economy, seats will feature a 130-degree recline in a fixed shell, width of up to 48.3cm, 102cm seat pitch, lumbar support, additional storage space and a wider footrest, as well as a 13.3-inch HD IFE screen. They have also been redesigned with softer cushions and leather armrests and will offer an electric socket and two USB ports.

In addition to the new seats, Air France says it is improving amenities for passengers, starting with a welcoming oshibori (small hand towel) and a complimentary glass of champagne as an aperitif.

Meals will be served with new tableware and tray, while a ‘gourmet snack’ will be available on a self-service basis on flights longer than 8.5 hours. Customers on flights lasting between 8.5 and 10.5 hours will also receive a breakfast bag of snacks to take with them or eat on board, as well as French-style candy on arrival.

Anne Rigail, EVP of customer at Air France, said: “With a further investment of €150 million in the cabins of our A330s, this is a major step in our overall strategy to move upmarket, a strategy that has been underway since 2014 and which will result in our 15 Airbus A330s being equipped as from 2019.”