Is this Emirates’ new premium economy seat?

Is this Emirates’ first ever premium economy seat? Firm behind newly unveiled design says the customer is a ‘Middle Eastern-based airline’

  • The Eclipse seat has been showcased at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg
  • The seat is described as being a seat suitable for ‘long-haul premium economy’ 
  • Emirates is to launch a premium economy cabin on some aircraft from next year 

A newly unveiled airline seat is being tipped as the seat Emirates will install in its first ever premium economy cabin.

Design firm Haeco Cabin Solutions showcased its new Eclipse seat at the Aircraft Interiors Expo, explaining that it’s for ‘long-haul premium economy’ and that its launch customer would be a ‘Middle Eastern-based airline’ who will begin flying it in 2020.

Given that last year Dubai-based Emirates announced that it would be launching a premium economy class cabin from 2020, aviation websites have been putting two and two together.

The brand new Eclipse seat unveiled by Haeco  Cabin Solutions, which is being tipped by some aviation specialists as the seat Emirates will install in its first ever premium economy cabin 

For example, Simple Flying wrote: ‘There is probable cause to believe it could be Emirates.

‘The airline is known to be implementing premium economy in the future, and this seat fits that mission.

‘In fact, the seat represents a good middle ground between the carrier’s economy and business cabins.’

When approached by MailOnline Travel, Emirates refused to comment.

According to Haeco Cabin Solutions, the Eclipse seat has an innovative layout and design and could be also used for short-haul business class travel.

The company says the seat has increased privacy and comfort and provides more stowage space for amenities and crew baggage, freeing overhead bin space.

Doug Rasmussen, president and group director of Haeco Cabin Solutions, said: ‘We saw an opportunity to develop a premium product for an emerging new class between premium economy and business class seating that would be appreciated both by passengers and airlines.

It was announced last May that Emirates is to launch a premium economy class on its aircraft from 2020

It was announced last May that Emirates is to launch a premium economy class on its aircraft from 2020

‘We harnessed our decades of experience in providing premium seating products and services to take a holistic approach to creating a new standard. The unique advantages of the Eclipse seat, together with the integrated cabin, can create up to a 14 per cent increase in passengers within the same cabin space.’

Customer deliveries will start in the first quarter of 2020 after the Eclipse Cabin has been certified. It has already achieved technical viability with Boeing and configurations for the Boeing 737 and 787 are now available.

It was announced last May that Emirates is to launch a premium economy class.

The airline’s president Tim Clark said it could help the carrier attract more higher spending travellers.

Premium economy will be on the Airbus A380s that Emirates ordered last year, of which the first six will be delivered in 2020, Clark said in a company podcast on its website. 

He added: ‘We will be installing premium economy into those and it will be an Emirates premium economy, so it will be special.’ 

Premium economy costs more than economy class tickets, but less than business class. Its introduction by Emirates could increase competitive pressure on rival Gulf airlines Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk