Cathay Pacific has confirmed it will switch to a 10-across economy seating layout on its Boeing 777 fleet.
The reconfiguration will be carried out between mid-2018 and 2020. Passengers can expect a newly designed economy seat with a width of 17.2 inches, a recline of six inches and a pitch of 32 inches, aimed at balancing capacity with comfort.
According to the airline, the change will align Cathay Pacific with many other premium carriers by adopting the industry-standard 3-4-3 seating configuration in the economy cabins of its long-haul and regional 777s. Specifically, the update affects 48 Boeing 777-300ER long-haul aircraft and 17 Boeing 777-300 regional aircraft. The carrier said it has evaluated other airlines’ experiences and customer feedback and will introduce a range of cabin improvements alongside the seating change.
On the 777-300ERs, economy passengers will see the in-flight entertainment screen grow from nine to 12 inches with higher resolution. The redesign places the in-flight entertainment box inside the seat structure to preserve legroom. Seats will be thinner but fitted with thicker, highly customized cushioning that has been tested for comfort. Additional features include a new leather headrest, armrests that lie flush with the seat, and a personal electronic device (PED) holder to facilitate mobile device use onboard. Faster charging capabilities and an integrated cup holder within the PED holder will also be provided.
Cathay Pacific is also exploring the installation of onboard WiFi across its 777 fleet, further enhancing connectivity options for passengers.