Eva Air is set to launch its new business class seats – Royal Laurel – on the Taipei-New York route, operated by a Boeing B777-300ER, on June 2, 2012.
These seats have a 180-degree recline, unlike the angled lie-flat, Premium Laurel business class seats, which will be progressively phased out from the B777 aircraft. The new flat bed measures 2 metres long and 65cm across – more than 15cm wider than the previous product. The cabin has been reconfigured to include 38 Royal Laurel seats, up from 36, in a 1-2-1 layout.
The seat aims to create a comfortable "personal space". Features include a "shoe cabinet", retractable armrest, separate cocktail and dining tables as well as Bulgari amenities, power outlets and noise-cancelling headsets.
The carrier plans to retrofit its entire fleet of 15 B777 aircraft with the new Royal Laurel seats by the end of 2013. In addition to New York, the seats will be featured on flights to Los Angeles later this year and then, in 2013, on flights to San Francisco, Toronto, Paris, Amsterdam and London.
The new seat comes just ahead of the carrier's integration into the Star Alliance network, which is scheduled to be completed next year (see story here). For a Tried and Tested of their Premium Laurel seats, which will continue to feature on short-haul routes, click here.
For more information, visit the seat’s dedicated microsite here.
Alisha Haridasani
