At the Farnborough Airshow this week, not only did Qatar Airways unveil a new business class, but Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines also provided a preview of what travellers can expect onboard in the future.
While the new Qatar Qsuite is more of an evolution than a revolution, Turkish Airlines’ offering looks quite different. The current product on many Turkish Airlines planes has been around for several years and is no longer up-to-date. It’s good news that all Boeing 777s will be retrofitted with new seats, with the first flights featuring the new cabin expected next year.
New Seats in 1-2-1 Configuration
The seats in the new Turkish Airlines business class follow a staggered 1-2-1 layout. This means every seat has direct aisle access without having to step over a neighbour, a significant advantage over the current business class configuration on the Boeing 777, which has an unpopular 2-3-2 layout with some middle seats.
The new seats also feature a sliding door for added privacy. While this seating concept is not groundbreaking, it is well-known and appreciated by many passengers. Comparable seat models include the Thompson Vantage XL (Delta One Suite), Collins Horizon (newer Aeroflot / Turkish A350), and Safran Unity (JAL A350).
It is still unclear whether Turkish Airlines has adopted one of these known seats or developed its own. Based on the statement designed from scratch, the latter seems more likely.
Additional features highlighted in the video include:
- A 22″ (56 cm) touchscreen
- A seat that is longer and wider in lie-flat mode than the current one
- A wireless charging pad for smartphones on the side table
- A small additional touchscreen that can be used as a remote control and display the flight map
- The use of real marble in the table implies at least a thin layer of genuine marble
Deployment Starting in 2025
Turkish Airlines will begin retrofitting existing Boeing 777s with the new seats in early 2025. Newly delivered Airbus A350s will also feature the new cabin. The goal is for half of the long-haul fleet to be equipped with the new seats by the end of 2026.
Sources: One Mile at a Time, Executive Traveller & Turkish Airlines on YouTube
Cover Picture: © Turkish Airlines