SWISS Ups The Ante In Business Class With New Dining Experience That Compare’s ‘With a Top Restaurant’

With less than two months to go before SWISS International Air Lines deploys its new Airbus A350 featuring its next-generation Business and First Class cabins, the carrier has just unveiled reimagined dining concepts for its premium long-haul passengers.

In Business Class, the airline says passengers should now expect “a top restaurant experience” with meals now served directly on tables rather than on a tray, and new service elements like the addition of a soup course, an expanded range of cheese and dessert, as well as new bedding and tableware.

The revamped Business Class experience comes just months after SWISS rolled out improvements to the so-called ‘soft product’ in its long-haul and Economy and Premium Economy cabins – a concept that the airline dubbed ‘SWISS Senses.’

“After introducing our remodeled SWISS Economy and SWISS Premium Economy service products in March, we are now taking the next consistent step, with the most comprehensive service renewal in the history of our company,” explained the carrier’s Chief Commercial Officer, Heike Birlenbach, on Wednesday.

“Our new SWISS Business and SWISS First services are designed to provide all the ambience of a superior restaurant aloft, with greater choice, more individuality and an even firmer emphasis on Swiss hospitality,” Birlenbach continued.

Passengers traveling in SWISS long-haul Business Class will start experiencing the SWISS Senses concept with cabin crew already recalled to the airline’s headquarters to be trained in the new routines.

Business Class improvements at a glance

Improvements to the Business Class meal service include:

• A revamped aperitif service, which includes nuts and the addition of olives.
• A recently introduced SWISS Alpine Essence signature cocktail.
• Tablecloths and tableware will be laid directly on the passenger’s table rather than on a tray.
• Each course will be presented separately, and a new soup dish will be introduced to the menu.
• An expanded range of desserts and cheeses is also being introduced.
• The meal will finish off with a new selection of pralines from Aeschbach Chocolatier.

And there will also be improvements to the overall Business Class experience:

• New bedding in a ‘soft gray’ colorway is being introduced – designed to contrast with the red of the new SWISS Senses Business Class seats on its A350s.
• A mattress topper will also be provided to make the seat more comfortable in sleep mode.
• SWISS will also start offering sleepshirts by local sustainable fashion brand Muntagnard.
• New amenity kits by the Swiss VIU brand are also expected to launch, featuring ceams with a bespoke Alpine Valley signature scent.
• Improved noise-canceling headphones finish the lineup of improvements.

First Class Improvements

It’s not just Business Class that has had an overhaul, and SWISS is also promising “a totally remodeled in-flight service” in its First Class cabin as well.

These can be grouped into three categories: Pre-takeoff, food and drink, and in-flight comfort.

Pre-takeoff: SWISS allows First Class to have any drink from the in-flight menu, even before the plane has taken off. The drink will be accompanied by a type of breadstick known as Apéro flûtes.

Food and drink: The main meal service starts off with a trio of amuse bouche, before cabin crew offer a selection of cold delicatessen items off a cart that is wheeled into the cabin. This is then followed by a seasonal sorbet, followed by the entree, sweet dessert, cheeses, and finally pralines and sweet treats by Sprüngli. On longer daytime flights, the airline is also introducing a new afternoon tea service.

In-flight comfort: Zimmerli, the makers of the ‘world’s finest underwear,’ will supply SWISS First Class passengers with pajamas and slippers, while ultra-luxe skincare brand Sisley will continue to supply personal care items. Tableware is also being enhanced with black accent items.

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The full SWISS Senses experience will be seen in the ten Airbus A350-900s that the airline has ordered, as these will feature new suites and seats in all cabins. The first A350 will initially operate crew familiarity flights on short-haul services before being deployed on long-haul routes later this year.