New Business Swiss seats

Swiss International Air Lines is launching what it says is a unique seating concept for its international Business Class cabins

Swiss International Air Lines is launching what it says is a unique seating concept for its international Business Class cabins which will give corporate travellers a "bed above the clouds".. It is in effect a standard lie-flat seat.

Developed by Swiss-based design company Lantal, the lie-flat seats will be 2m long and feature air cushions which allow seat hardness to be set to meet individuals' wishes and needs.

Each seat is extremely light - the air cushion alone makes them 4 kilos lighter than a conventional foam-padded one - and this will save Swiss more than 650 tonnes of fuel a year, lowering CO2 emissions and cutting fuel bills. In addition, seats will contain an integrated massage function, USB and iPod sockets and bigger 16.9 format in-flight entertainment screens.

Work will begin installing the revamped Business cabin from spring next year, with around one third of the carrier's long-haul fleet offering it by the end of 2009. The new Airbus A330-300s will also feature the seats - they are joining the fleet from the 2009.