SWISS Admits New First Class Seats Make Planes Unbalanced

SWISS has acknowledged that its new First and Business Class seats are too heavy and causing balance issues on its planes.

The airline’s new “Senses” seats, which are set to be introduced fleet-wide from 2025, are heavier than anticipated. This has resulted in the aircraft becoming more “nose heavy” as the economy seats are being made lighter.

Privacy Comes at a Cost

The new Senses seats in First Class come with sliding doors for more privacy. While this added luxury enhances passenger comfort, it is affecting the balance of the planes, especially the Airbus A333s.

Plan to Fix the Balance Issue

To address this, SWISS will add lead plates to the planes starting in winter 2025 to adjust the plane’s balance. SWISS spokesperson Meike Fuhlrott mentioned that the extra weight might impact fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, but the airline is working to balance customer needs, cost, and environmental concerns.

No Extra Fuel Stops Required

Despite these changes, flights from Zurich to Los Angeles will not require additional fuel stops, Fuhlrott assured.