Iberia has taken another step in its renewal and modernisation by unveiling a new premium economy cabin on selected long-haul aircraft and routes from Madrid from the summer of 2017.
The new premium economy cabin (known as Turista Premium in Spanish) features a dedicated seat in a 2-3-2 configuration. The seat pitch is 37 inches. The seat width is 19 inches. The seat has a recline of 7 inches.
The seat also features a larger in-flight entertainment screen and in seat power (multi-pin plus and USB). Iberia also promises that premium economy passengers will have access to a dedicated check-in and priority boarding lanes (which you don’t get on BA!) a checked baggage allowance of two bags, as well as pre-take off drinks, noise cancelling headphones and a dedicated amenity kit.
Readers who have flown on BA’s new World Traveller Plus seat on Boeing 787, Airbus A380 and select Boeing 777 aircraft will note that the seat looks very familiar. Based on our experience on BA it should be a comfortable experience and good for sleeping.
The new seats will be retrofitted to all 8 Airbus A330-300 aircraft and selected (16) A340-600 aircraft. It will also be fitted to new deliveries of all 16 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. It will not be fitted to Airbus A330-200 and some A340-600 aircraft which are earmarked for retirement.
The retrofit will be begin in early 2017 and is expected to be complete in 2018.
Premium economy flights are expected to go on sale in early 2017. The first destinations are expected to be Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Lima or Chicago.
This development does show what was once a niche product is rapidly become standard amongst almost all long-haul airlines. Other airlines due to add premium economy include American Airlines.
More details on Iberia’s new product are available on this attached PDF presentation from Iberia.
Update January 2017: Premium economy is now on sale at Iberia.com for flights to New York and Chicago from May, Miami from August, Boston from September, Bogota from October and Mexico from November.
