German media reports Austrian Airlines will adopt premium economy across its B767 and B777 fleet which operates medium- and long-haul routes.

But don’t get exited too soon. Passengers will have to wait until spring 2018 before the product is installed fleet-wide.

Plans call for the installation of 18 seats in its six B767s and 24 in the carrier’s five B777-200s.

Installation is set to start in the winter of 2017/2018.  The cost is reckoned to be 15 million Euros.

Some normal economy seats will have to be removed (to make way for the roomier premium economy version) but the airline expects to recoup the lost revenue because premium economy is sold at a higher price.

No details of the product have so far been released. But it is safe to assume it will be more or less identical to that provided by parent Lufthansa.

It was only a matter of time before Austrian Airlines introduced premium economy.

Its parent company views the Vienna-based airline as a value for money carrier whereas Swiss is considered the top flight member.

Austrian Airlines’ planes have a two-class configuration (business and economy) with no first class. And economy on its B777s is configured 10-across 3-4-3.

In recent years Austrian Airlines has been adding a number of new long-haul destinations. And 2017 sees the Vienna-based carrier launch the only non-stop service between Central Europe and the US West Coast.

For a recent review of the carrier’s business class product on its new route between Vienna and Hong Kong, click here.

austrian.com