Finnair offers first look at seats, features in new wide-body A350

Finnair on Wednesday showed off its wide-body A350 airplane that it plans to start flying to Asia next year. One thing you won’t find aboard the new generation of the aircraft: a first-class section; it’s all cushy business and economy seats.

The windows are bigger, the air will be fresher and the seats comfier, a Finnair statement says. Members of the media had a chance to check out one of the new planes at Helsinki Airport.

The interior was created by dSign Vertti Kivi & Co., which also designed a new premium airport lounge (more on that later).

The plane’s 297 seats include 46 business-class seats in a 1-2-1 layout that convert to lie-flat beds. They also feature 16-inch touch screens for movies, TV shows, etc.; power outlets; and Wi-Fi on all flights.

Fliers can choose to fly economy or economy comfort, which adds nicer headrests, better quality headphones and 4 extra inches of leg room. Both economy seats come with 11-inch touch screens for entertainment options and power outlets.

And the fresh air? The airline says a new filtration system means air in the cabin changes every 2 to 3 minutes.

Finnair says it plans to fly the new A350s to Shanghai and Beijing and China as well as Bangkok, Thailand, in 2015. It has ordered 11 of the aircraft and hopes to expand its long-haul service to Hong Kong and Singapore in 2016.

The new lounge features a mixed-sex sauna for those who really want to unwind before getting on a plane. It also has nice touches including classic chairs designed by Finnish American architect-designer Eero Saarinen, and tableware and glasses first designed for Finnair in 1968.

The lounge is open to Platinum and Gold Finnair Plus members as well as equivalent members on Oneworld airlines.