Taiwan’s EVA Air Unveils the Industry’s Most Spacious Premium Economy Seat

In 1992, EVA Air introduced the industry’s first-ever premium economy cabin, bridging the gap between business and economy class.

Now, 23 years later, the airline has revealed the fourth iteration of its premium economy cabin, which is set to make it an industry leader once again.

“The fourth-generation seats retain the core philosophy of previous generations while enhancing comfort, fashion, and functionality, showcasing our commitment to service innovation and attention to detail,” said Clay Sun, president at EVA Air.

Here’s what we know about this exciting new product.

EVA Air’s Industry-Leading Premium Economy Seats Coming Soon

EVA’s new premium economy cabins will debut on its Boeing 787-9 aircraft and will initially serve Jakarta, Indonesia (CGK) from the airline’s hub in Taipei, Taiwan (TPE).

The carrier hasn’t announced an official launch date for the new product yet, but we know it will feature 28 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration — standard for the 787.

EVA’s new premium economy seats will boast a whopping 42 inches of pitch, which means it will offer the roomiest premium economy cabin in the sky.

EVA says its new premium economy cabin will offer a very comfortable experience thanks in large part to the seat’s “cradle-motion recline,” which slides the seat cushion forward and upward at the same time, giving passengers the equivalent of 8 inches of recline, according to a press release from the airline. This reclining system also maintains space for the seats behind.

Other enhancements include increased storage in the armrests, small privacy wings at the headrests, 15.6-inch high-definition IFE screens (which EVA also claims will be the industry’s largest), AC and USB power, and more.

Premium economy passengers — regardless of their seat generation — will also be treated to new amenity kits designed by British brand HUNTER and other amenities including pillows, double-sided blankets, noise-canceling headphones, tableware designed by Italian brand Guzzini, and more.

How To Book EVA Air Flights

After Jakarta, the next destinations to welcome the new cabin are scheduled to be Munich (MUC), Milan (MXP), Vienna (VIA), and eventually San Francisco (SFO) — the first U.S. destination to see EVA’s new premium economy product.

Until then, you can still experience EVA’s current offerings from the following 8 cities in North America: Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Toronto (YYZ), and Vancouver (YVR).

Even better, there are numerous ways to redeem points and miles for EVA Air flights, making the airline a great option for your next trip to Taiwan or beyond in Asia.

Final Thoughts

EVA Air started the premium economy trend in the early 1990s, so it’s no surprise it’s innovating again in its fourth generation. We’re looking forward to trying this product for ourselves and are curious to see if other carriers follow EVA’s lead in their own premium economy offerings.