SWISS Unveils Bold New Economy Class Experience with ‘SWISS Senses’

Zurich, March 3 2025 – Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is revolutionising its Economy and Premium Economy Class experience with the launch of ‘SWISS Senses’ on March 5.

A New Chapter in SWISS Hospitality

The ‘SWISS Senses’ concept encompasses upgraded food and beverages, enhanced comfort items, and a signature scent.

These elements connect deeply with Swiss culture and hospitality while introducing premium touches to long-haul travel.

“This is one of the biggest service investments in the airline’s history,” says Heike Birlenbach, SWISS’s Chief Commercial Officer.

“These innovations offer a tangible improvement in our Economy and Premium Economy Class services, providing our customers with a memorable travel experience that reflects the heart of Swiss hospitality.”

Sustainable Design: Elevated Tableware

SWISS partnered with deSter to develop elegant, sustainable tableware.

The new black trays and bowls blend aesthetic elegance with durability, perfectly complementing the refreshed cabin experience.

This supports SWISS’s commitment to sustainability and aligns with its closed-loop recycling process, helping reduce waste while ensuring long-lasting performance.

The shift from disposable containers to reusable items will significantly decrease the airline’s environmental footprint.

Welcome Aperitif

As the aircraft reaches cruising altitude, Economy and Premium Economy passengers will receive a distinctly Swiss welcome.

SWISS will serve a traditional Sbrinz cheese appetiser to complement a complimentary aperitif, setting the tone for Swiss hospitality to follow.

Main Meal Service

Economy Class passengers will enjoy revamped Swiss-inspired main courses featuring tender meats paired with seasonal Alpine vegetables and traditional accompaniments.

The meals will now be presented on the sleek new black tableware, enhancing the visual appeal and dining experience.

Premium Economy passengers will receive an even more elevated culinary experience with higher-quality ingredients, more generous portions, and refined presentation that rivals Business Class offerings on many other carriers.

Pre-Landing Refreshment

SWISS has wholly reimagined the pre-landing meal service. Previously served in simple cardboard boxes with basic offerings such as sandwiches, yogurt, and croissants, these meals now come in elegant, reusable bento boxes or stylish trays.

Swiss airlines economy class meal european flights

The new presentation is matched by improved quality and variety in the food offerings.

Expanded Beverage Program

The ‘SWISS Senses’ concept extends to a carefully curated beverage selection. Passengers will enjoy a variety of Swiss red wines selected to pair perfectly with the new menu items.

SWISS has also added Rivella, Switzerland’s beloved national soft drink, to give passengers an authentic taste of Swiss culture at 35,000 feet.

The Sensory Touch: Alpine Valley Fragrance

A distinctive feature of the ‘SWISS Senses’ concept is the introduction of a signature scent called “Alpine Valley.”

Developed in collaboration with Zurich-based company Soeder, this unique fragrance infuses the aircraft lavatories with aromatic larch, fresh citrus, and herbal notes—giving passengers a sensory connection to Switzerland’s breathtaking mountain landscapes.

Comfort Enhancements for Better Rest and Entertainment

SWISS has introduced new bedding, including pillows and blankets made entirely from recycled materials.

These sustainable comfort items align with the latest ‘SWISS Senses’ cabin design that will be rolled out across the airline’s long-haul fleet.

Setting New Standards

While competitors have made incremental improvements to their economy offerings, SWISS’s holistic approach simultaneously addresses multiple aspects of the passenger experience.

Birlenbach adds, “With ‘SWISS Senses,’ we’re taking significant steps toward our premium aspirations, ensuring that the SWISS experience is distinctive and memorable across all cabin classes.”

Beginning March 5, 2025, passengers can experience the new ‘SWISS Senses’ concept on all SWISS long-haul flights.

All photos courtesy of Swiss.

Nik Loukas

Nik founded Inflight Feed in 2012, blending his passion for inflight dining with over a decade of experience in the airline industry. For the past 13 years, he has travelled the world, exploring and reviewing airline meals across countless carriers.

CNN Travel, The New York Times, and BBC World News have featured Nik’s expertise. When he’s not on the ground, you’ll find him at 35,000 feet, camera in hand, capturing the unique flavours of air travel. Follow his inflight meal adventures on Instagram: @InflightFeed.

NEW JAPAN AIRLINES AIR SERIES INFLIGHT MENU

[dropcap size=small]J[/dropcap]apan Airlines have always been known for their creative inflight meals, and the latest Air Series menu is sure to impress. Economy and premium economy class passengers travelling on select Japan Airlines flights from Narita and Haneda will get to experience the latest Air Series menu of Air Kumamon.

The Air Kumamon meal tray has been specially designed only for JAL by Mr Manabu Mizuno using the famous mascot from the Kumamoto prefecture. Served as a second meal service and created by Chef Hayama from Kourantei a restaurant in Kumamoto city.

The meal tray will include vermicelli that is made from mung beans in soup with vegetables and many other fresh ingredients that are typical of the Kumamoto Prefecture. Passengers will indulge in the Kumamon custard cake, which is one of the most popular desserts in the region made by Kumamoto Kabo.

From the 1 June until 31 August 2014 passengers flying from Narita to New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Paris, Frankfurt, Helsinki and from Haneda to Paris and London will get to experience this meal.

To see how creative Japan Airlines have been recently, check out their inflight KFC meal here.

Nik Loukas

CZECH AIRLINES TEAMS UP WITH Zátiší GROUP

[dropcap size=small]C[/dropcap]zech airlines meals options for business and economy class passengers are set to change on 1 June with a new range of inflight meal options gracing the skies. The airline has just announced a new collaboration with chefs from the Zátiší Group a chain of restaurants and catering company based in Prague.

Economy class passengers flying from Brussels, Barcelona and Madrid to/from Prague are also set to benefit from the new inflight meal range with options such as homemade white and dark baguettes served with cheese and vegetables. While international economy class passengers flying to Russia and Central Asia will sample more local style meals which have been developed by the team at Skyport Catering.

For travellers heading to Seoul dishes such as pumpkin soup or partridge with creamy mushroom sauce and gnocchi will be served on select flights.

Business-class passengers flying to/from Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Copenhagen, and other routes will be served Tramezzi with ham and cheese, chicken with vegetables or pollo tonnato with tuna mayonnaise.

While passengers flying further afield on international long-haul services to Seoul will have a choice of three main meal choices including a Korean option of Bibimbap, Chicken Makhani with rice and aubergine Masala, ham and cheese quiche, veal rump steak with creamy-vegetable sauce and Karlovy Vary dumplings.

In a recent press conference Sanjiv Suri, Zátiší Group President & CEO said, “We believe that quality and tasty food should be a part of our lives. There is no reason to compromise even aboard an aircraft. The combination of our food concept with Czech Airlines’ Business Class service proves that. Our joint goal is to provide clients with the utmost of comfort and exceptional experiences during every moment of their travels,”.

Nik Loukas

AIR INDIA TO INTRODUCE PAID MEALS?

[dropcap size=small]A[/dropcap]ir India is contemplating the introduction of paid meals for economy class passengers on select routes, this follows an already reduced inflight meal service on domestic flights up to 90 minutes. Air India is facing fierce competition and is looking to increase revenues and reduce costs.

The airline stopped serving hot meals and instead now offers snack boxes on Indian domestic flights with a flight time of up to 90 minutes. The Hindu Business Line reported today that the airline plans to start charging for food served to passengers on short flights of up to 60-90 minutes in duration. At this stage, this is a trial only, and a final decision on whether or not the new system will be introduced should be made in the second half of this year.

The airline’s competitors SpiceJet and Indigo do not provide free meals, and instead offer a buy on board and pre-order meal system for passengers. The prices for the new Air India meals are yet to be determined but should be released by the airline shortly.

Nik Loukas