Iberia has introduced a new premium economy seat that will be fitted on 37 long-haul aircraft beginning in summer 2017. The upgraded product offers a 19-inch seat width and a 37-inch seat pitch, providing noticeably more space than standard economy seating.
Passengers will benefit from increased recline — about 40 percent more than economy seats — and a larger in-flight entertainment screen measuring 13 inches versus nine inches in economy. The new seat is designed to enhance comfort on long flights without moving passengers into the full business-class cabin.
Additional amenities for premium economy include adjustable head and foot rests, noise-cancelling headphones, and an exclusive amenity kit available only to passengers in this cabin. Premium-economy travelers will also receive priority boarding and disembarkation, an expanded checked-baggage allowance, enhanced dining choices, and other elevated services.
Iberia plans to retrofit eight Airbus A330-300s and 13 A340-600s with the new seats. The carrier’s 16 incoming A350-900s will be delivered with the premium-economy configuration already installed in 2018.
Next summer the new seats will be deployed on routes from Madrid (MAD) to Buenos Aires (EZE), Lima (LIM) and Chicago (ORD). Iberia positions this offering as the first premium-economy option on direct flights between Spain and Latin America.
“Premium Economy is an initiative included in our Plan de Futuro aimed at increasing revenues. It will give Economy passengers an additional option for greater comfort and extra services on long flights,” said Luis Gallego, executive chairman, Iberia.