Edelweiss Selects Thompson VantageXL+ for A350 Business Class
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Thompson Aero Seating (TAS) has announced it will provide business-class seats for Edelweiss’ Airbus A350 fleet. Edelweiss has become the first European airline to select the new VantageXL+ for its A350 business-class cabins. The program highlights the airline’s focus on improving long-haul comfort while showcasing the latest evolution of TAS’ Vantage seating platform.
VantageXL+ Debuts on Edelweiss A350s
This week, SWISS leisure subsidiary Edelweiss announced that it has selected the new VantageXL+ from Thompson Aero Seating for its Airbus A350 fleet, becoming the first airline in Europe to offer the A350-specific version of the seat. The airline plans to begin taking delivery of the product later this year, with the product being retrofitted across its six Airbus A350s.
“Every VantageXL suite delivers an outstanding passenger experience through a wide range of amenities, stowages, and the ability to integrate the latest in IFE equipment, all carefully designed to provide incredible levels of comfort.”
– Andy Morris, Edelweiss Air
The announcement comes as Edelweiss continues to overhaul its long-haul operations. The airline is replacing its Airbus A340-300 fleet with Airbus A350-900 aircraft acquired from LATAM. While the aircraft currently retain their existing interiors, Edelweiss plans to update the cabins as part of its broader premium refresh.
Each ship set of the VantageXL+ will accommodate 32 passengers in a 1-2-1 layout, providing every traveler with direct aisle access. The VantageXL+ builds on Thompson’s popular VantageXL platform, with refinements designed specifically for the Airbus A350 fuselage. Rather than introducing a completely new seat architecture, Thompson focused on improving an established design.
Key updates include expanded footwells and reshaped internal walls, which provide more legroom and improved comfort in bed mode. Thompson has also refined the suite top rails to make the space feel more open and adjusted in-flight entertainment (IFE) screen placement to improve viewing distance and immersion. Together, the changes reflect a broader industry trend toward incremental but meaningful improvements in long-haul cabin comfort.
The platform also allows Edelweiss to express its brand through customized materials, colors, and finishes. While the seat structure remains consistent, these details help the cabin feel distinctly aligned with Edelweiss’ leisure-focused identity.
Business Suites Anchor Edelweiss’ VantageXL+ Cabin
A defining element of Edelweiss’ VantageXL+ installation is the enhanced front row, branded as the Edelweiss Business Suite. The cabin includes four of these suites, which the airline markets as delivering a first-class-style experience within an all business-class layout.
Each Business Suite features a closing door for added privacy and a large 32-inch display designed to support a more immersive IFE experience. In the center suites, a movable divider allows passengers traveling together to share the space or separate it when flying solo, without changing overall cabin density.
As with all seats in the Vantage family, each Business Suite converts into a fully-flat bed, ensuring consistency in sleep comfort throughout the cabin. The front row configuration allows Edelweiss to introduce a differentiated premium offering without adding the cost and complexity of a separate first-class cabin, an approach that continues to gain traction among leisure-focused long-haul operators.
Behind the front row, Edelweiss has branded the remaining 28 seats as Edelweiss Business. These seats use the same VantageXL+ base but swap the door for an aisle-side privacy shield. The configuration allows Edelweiss to offer varying levels of privacy within a single cabin.
Each Edelweiss Business seat also converts into a fully-flat bed and provides direct aisle access. With ample space for work and relaxation, multiple personal storage areas, and a 17.3-inch IFE screen, the cabin is designed to meet the expectations of long-haul leisure travelers.
“Every VantageXL suite delivers an outstanding passenger experience through a wide range of amenities, stowages, and the ability to integrate the latest in IFE equipment, all carefully designed to provide incredible levels of comfort,” said Thompson Aero Seating CCO Andy Morris. “The VantageXL+ represents another step forward in TAS’s commitment to refine and enhance a living product to meet evolving customer requirements. We have been pleased to partner once again with the Edelweiss team on this notable customization of our seats.”
As the first European carrier to bring VantageXL+ into service, Edelweiss provides Thompson with a high-profile regional launch customer. With deliveries planned for 2026, the program sets the stage for wider adoption of the A350-optimized seat and underscores how interactive cabin innovation continues to shape premium long-haul travel.