SWISS schedules brand new Boeing 777s (photos)

First class seats on SWISS’s new 777-300ERs have 32-inch video monitors. (Image: SWISS)

Lufthansa subsidiary SWISS will make a big upgrade to its long-haul fleet next year with the delivery of nine new Boeing 777-300ERs. San Francisco and Los Angeles are among the routes where the planes will first be deployed.

SWISS said the new widebodies will start flying from Zurich to both West Coast cities when its summer 2016 schedule takes effect; it currently operates A340-300s on both routes. The new 777s will carry 340 passengers, with eight seats in first class, 62 in business and 270 in economy.

First class seating transforms into a private suite with a 32-inch video screen, electrically-adjustable window blinds and a “personal wardrobe,” the airline said. Business class seats convert into a fully flat bed six feet seven inches long and have cushions whose firmness can be set to the passenger’s preference. Economy class will get new seat cushion technology and big touch-screens.

Economy class is fitted with 10-abreast seating arranged 3-4-3, a tighter but increasingly common configuration on new B777s.

Business class seats recline to fully flat beds. (Image: SWISS)

“In addition to the regular cabin service, all SWISS Economy guests will be able to make use of a self-service kiosk offering a wide range of drinks and snacks,” a spokesperson said. And the new 777s will have Wi-Fi throughout.

In addition to its LAX and SFO routes, SWISS will operate the new 777-300ERs to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Sao Paulo and Tel Aviv. A SWISS representative told TravelSkills that the SFO-Zurich route will initially get the new plane three times a week, offering an A340 on the other four days, while the 777-300ER will fly the LAX route seven days a week .

Passengers will also get the benefit of SWISS’s incredible in-flight cuisine. See our recent Trip Report on what that’s like. And scroll down to see more of the interiors on the new 777-300ERs.