Swiss to launch new first, business class in 2025

Following Lufthansa’s rollout of its new Allegris first class and business class in the second half of 2023, sibling Swiss will also adopt the same suites and seats from 2025.

Their debut will be timed for the arrival of new twin-jets from either Airbus or Boeing, which will replace the handful of ageing A340 jets and become the Zurich-based airline’s long-range flagships.

Lufthansa’s plan for its Allegris portfolio is to offer the same core product across the Lufthansa group, as has most recently been done with premium economy – indeed, Swiss is already flying the wide fixed-shell recliners ahead of Lufthansa.

However, the Swiss versions of Allegris will be customised to reflect the colours, styling and aesthetic of the Swiss brand.

Swiss' current first class and business class will be replaced by Lufthansa's new Allegris portfolio.

Dr. Björn Becker, Lufthansa Group’s Head of Project for the Future Intercontinental Experience, confirmed the 2025 timeframe and tells Executive Traveller that Swiss remains a natural fit for first class “because it belongs to the positioning of Swiss International. Switzerland is a very high profit market so it makes sense.”

But Becker is keeping plenty of details – such as how many first class suites there will be per row, and in the entire cabin – tucked safely away until early 2023.

The new Lufthansa and Swiss first class suites will be surrounded by “nearly ceiling-high walls” and feature a sliding panel that can be closed for privacy.

Lufthansa's Allegris first class will be adopted by Swiss in 2025.

Passengers face an ottoman which doubles as a companion seat, above which is mounted a wide HD screen with Bluetooth audio streaming to wireless headphones; each suite also contains a personal wardrobe.

Lufthansa's Allegris first class will be adopted by Swiss in 2025.

All four seats in the first row of the business class cabin also sport a sliding door, as well as a bigger video monitor and slightly larger footprint to the rest of business class – with travellers likely to pay a premium for this ‘business plus’ experience.

Lufthansa's Allegris business class will be adopted by Swiss in 2025.

The rest of the new Swiss business class cabin will alternate rows of a conventional 1-2-1 layout with 1-1-1 rows boasting a middle ‘throne’ seat.

High curved shells wrap around each seat to provide a degree of privacy without doors.

Lufthansa's Allegris business class will be adopted by Swiss in 2025.

The 17-inch monitors can feed wireless audio via Bluetooth to the passenger’s own wireless headphone or earbuds; other high-tech touches include wireless charging and a tablet which controls everything from the inflight entertainment and seating position to lighting and ventilation.