Austrian takes off with new long-haul cabin

After completing a successful test flight and gaining official approval from aviation authorities, the first Austrian long-haul aircraft to feature the company’s completely remodelled long-haul cabin, a Boeing 777

bearing the identification code OE-LPD, will embark on its maiden flight this evening. Flight no. OS45 will take off from Vienna at 8.45 p.m. local time, and land in Malé, capital of the Maldives, according to schedule eight hours and 40 minutes later. The new fittings mean passengers travelling Economy Class on long-haul flights will have the opportunity to enjoy an entirely new level of seating comfort. In Business Class, meanwhile, the new seats will offer a persuasive mix of intuitive operation, a built-in massage function, and extra storage space. The excellent standard of reclining comfort offered to passengers by the new seats is thanks to their innovative combination of an air cushion system and the option to convert them into full-flat beds.

The new cabin in the Boeing 777 offers space for a total of 308 passengers, with 260 people in the Economy Class section and 48 in Business Class. An all-new inflight entertainment system offers a wide choice of the latest films, ensuring passengers enjoy non-stop inflight entertainment. And as before, the award-winning DO&CO service, with its inflight chef feature, will be provided for passengers’ culinary pleasure.

Austrian Airlines CCO Karsten Benz said the following about the new cabin: “Comfort and service are the top priorities at Austrian Airlines. With this new long-haul cabin, we are offering a product perfectly harmonised with the wishes of our customers. We have invested over 90 million euros in our aircraft to achieve this.” Austrian Airlines is converting its entire long-haul fleet, which consists of four aircraft of the Boeing 777 type and six Boeing 767, on a step-by-step basis. Around 1.1 million customers travel long-haul with Austrian Airlines on 5,500 flights every year.

The new Business Class seat – an overview

· Horizontal full-flat surface almost two metres in length

· Innovative air cushion system offering greatest possible comfort, whether passenger sitting or lying down

· More space in shoulder area in reclining position thanks to lowerable armrests

· Generous storage spaces and extra storage compartments built directly into seat

· Entertainment system with larger monitors:

Economy Class screens now 9-inch instead of 6.5-inch to 9 inch to date (depending on aircraft type); Business Class screens 15-inch instead of 5 to 10.4-inch to date (depending on aircraft type)

 

Source: Austrian Airlines