SWISS reveals Senses mockups, readies for product debut on A350Runway Girl

In a testament to the power of color, materials and finish (CMF) in aircraft interiors, Swiss International Air Lines is receiving accolades after unveiling mockups of its new “Senses” first class and business class seats for the first time. “Gorgeous,” enthused one traveler. “Pure class,” proclaimed another.

Together with new premium economy and economy class cabins, the Senses first and business class products are slated to arrive this fall on the carrier’s new Airbus A350-900 twinjets, and will make their intercontinental debut on flights from Zurich to Boston in the wintertime, management confirmed during a presentation of the mockups in Zurich.

Tickets are now bookable for flights beginning on 1 January 2026.

We’ve seen the hard product before: Lufthansa has been flying its “Allegris” version of Lufthansa Group’s so-called Future InterContinental Experience (FICE) interiors on A350-900s since April of last year, and now has ten Allegris-fitted A350s in service. The debut of Allegris first class on the A350 — including the center-section, two-seater sofa/bed that facilitates couples — was delayed until late-2024 due to supply chain constraints at seatmaker Collins Aerospace.

But whilst Lufthansa’s Allegris color palette is objectively rather conservative — navy accented by wood effects and marble in first class, and heavy on the blues and greys in business class — SWISS has paired colors like claret and anthracite with swish materials and human-centric lighting from Jetlite to showcase its personality.

The beautifully styled Senses cabins aim to effectively do what they say on the proverbial tin, and appeal to all the senses.

Mockup of the center-pair suite with wood effect.

Four ultra-private first class suites with sliding doors will be installed up front on the SWISS A350s, including the center-pair sofa, as shown in this mockup at Zurich Airport. Image: SWISS

For SWISS chief executive officer Jens Fehlinger, the unveiling of Senses represents “a new chapter” for the airline.

“SWISS Senses is more than a design upgrade — it’s a promise to offer our guests a more personal and immersive experience,” he said in a statement published on LinkedIn. “From smart lighting and luxurious materials to enhanced privacy and a tailored onboard scent — we’re redefining comfort with all five senses in mind. This is premium travel at its best,” he declared.

“The arrival of our first A350 this autumn marks the start of the most extensive product investment in our history. It’s a bold step — and one that underlines our long-term commitment to quality, innovation, and our home market.”

A cadre of aircraft interiors stakeholders are responsible for helping SWISS and the broader Lufthansa Group make Senses a reality. PriestmanGoode serves as the carrier’s design consultancy partner, following a brief that called for “warm minimalism.”

PriestmanGoode director Daniel MacInnes said: “It has been great working with SWISS to build Senses first class. A real honour for PriestmanGoode.”

All Senses business class seats are lie-flat and offer direct aisle access but some, like this front-row, biz-plus Business Suite offer more bells and whistles including a sliding door, a wardrobe and more storage. It will ultimately be priced accordingly. Image: SWISS

STELIA Aerospace, the Airbus Atlantic brand dedicated to cabin Interior activity, said on LinkedIn that it’s “delighted” to be participating in the carrier’s new chapter by manufacturing the new business class seats.

SWISS Senses a350 business class suite mock up with high walls

Some seats in the Senses cabin will be incredibly private, even without a sliding door. Image: SWISS

Lighting hardware specialist Jetlite contributed the lighting setup for the Senses cabin mockup, and said the mockup includes an app-based control system designed to support training scenarios.

Notably, the lighting scheme is also expected to help travelers better cope with jet lag.

“Our new seats are the centerpiece of our new aircraft cabins,” SWISS chief commercial officer Heike Birlenbach said.

“But SWISS Senses appeals to all the senses — with its special lighting concept, for instance, and also with our new scent that has been specially created for SWISS. All in all, SWISS Senses represents the biggest product investment in the history of our company — and a further major milestone for Swiss aviation.”

Over at sister Lufthansa, the carrier has been receiving good reviews for the Allegris cabins flying on ten A350-900s, and bookings have surpassed expectations.

Lufthansa’s first new three-class Boeing 787-9 with Allegris business, premium economy and economy cabins, is expected to arrive in late summer, though a big portion of the business cabin will be blocked until certification of the Collins-made seats on the Dreamliner is achieved.

The business class seat certification issue is unique to the 787, Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said during the carrier’s 2Q earnings conference call.

SWISS does not currently operate any 787s.