EVA reveals new Boeing 787 business class styled by BMW Designworks
By David Flynn, September 21 2018
Taiwan's EVA Air is about to start flying its first Boeing 787-9, and the Dreamliner marks the debut of a new Royal Laurel business class seat for the Star Alliance member.
The updated Royal Laurel Class business class seats have been styled by BMW's Designworks company, which made a deliberate decision to step away from conventional aircraft design and rethink the seats and the overall business class cabin based on more fundamental concepts of space.
“We wanted EVA’s business class experience to be fresh and memorable for passengers and to make service, design and brand all work together,” said Johannes Lampela, Design Director at BMW Designworks’ LA Studio. “Our goal was to take a proven seat platform and make it unique to EVA."
EVA's 26 Boeing 787 business class seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, and like the cabin itself they're dressed in muted colours.
Each seat is a comfortable 23 inches (58.4 cm) wide, reclining into a fully flat bed of 76 inches (193cm).
Premium passenger-friendly touches include adjustable privacy panels between the paired middle seats...
...generous built-in storage cabinets...
... a wide seat-side shelf plus an extra-large tray table for working inflight...
... and a massive 18 inch HD touchscreen display.
LED lighting schemes provide hints of colour throughout the flight, from this soothing blue...
... to a brighter sunrise.
EVA expects to take delivery of four Boeing 787-9 jets this year, followed by the Boeing 787-10 in the second quarter of 2019, building to a total 24 Dreamliners by 2022.
The first EVA Boeing 787-9 will fly between Taipei and Hong Kong from late October, with the second Dreamliner appearing on flights to Japan.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 357
Is it going to be 1-2-1 with direct aisle access or still 2-2-2 like the current A330?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 125
Looking at the image it’s looking like a 1-2-1 config with the 1 seats adopting alternating aisle/window set up. Similar to the EY/EK/QF, etc design.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
13 Jun 2013
Total posts 29
You could possibly look at the photos for your answer?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 357
Thanks for all the downvotes. When the article was first published it only came with one photo, ie, the one at the top which there was no way of telling whether it was 1-2-1 or 2-2-2. That's why I asked David. He then later added more detailes with more photos which answered my question. Now with the pictures, not only I can tell it's 1-2-1 staggered, I can tell that it's Vantage XL, same as the one used by Qantas. Qantas had Marc Newson to do the final tweak, EVA got BMW. But they are essentially the same seats.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
14 Mar 2017
Total posts 152
"a deliberate decision to step away from conventional aircraft design and rethink the seats and the overall business class cabin based on more fundamental concepts of space"
Yet somehow it still looks like every other seat on the market with this configuration...
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1209
Underneath the BMW froo-froo, it looks like they've used the Thomson Vantage XL as used by a number of airlines including QF.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Sep 2012
Total posts 236
I thought the same thing as you!! In fairness the BMW dude does also say “Our goal was to take a proven seat platform and make it unique to EVA." Looks great though.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 328
still love my Swiss 777 C Thrones!!! And this looks just as narrow!
18 Jul 2012
Total posts 3
They lost me at unique, this could easily be a business class for a run of the mill European carrier. China Airlines customisation seems a lot more successful & unique IMO.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 357
Thanks for the updated pictures. Earlier in the morning it wasn't clear. But now I can see it's the 1-2-1 staggered formation. Looks modern but whether it's better than the old Royal Laurel with reverse herringbone is hard to tell.
26 Feb 2015
Total posts 8
does it have adequate foot space for tall 1.9 metres or taller when reclined? unlike so many of the current gen seats such as SIA.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2017
Total posts 73
Looks stylish. Love the storage options. 193cm is a step forward on many carriers.
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
14 Apr 2013
Total posts 326
Hopefully, EVA starts services to SYD & MEL soon with the 787-9
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 317
Pity EVA only fly to Brisbane...
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