Who Has The Most Legroom?

Since its introduction, the Airbus A350 has quickly become a staple of today’s long-haul flying, with the modern aircraft representing a next-generation experience for both airlines and their passengers. As nice as the aircraft generally is, a few inches of extra legroom can significantly elevate the onboard passenger experience. With this in mind, let’s see which carriers offer the most space on their A350-1000s.

Economy class

According to data from ch-aviation.com, there are presently 79 active examples of the Airbus A350-1000 worldwide, which are spread across eight carriers. When it comes to legroom in economy class onboard these next-generation widebodies, three airlines, in particular, lead the way.

First up, we have Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific, whose Airbus A350-1000s offer a standard seat pitch of 32 inches in economy class. This is also the case for the two carriers pictured below, Air Caraibes and French bee. However, it is worth noting that the latter pair squeezes ten seats per row, so space in the width department is a bit more restricted. Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific utilizes a nine-abreast configuration.

Photo: Airbus

Of course, it is worth pointing out that some carriers offer extra legroom seats in their economy class cabins for a supplementary fee. Data from ch-aviation shows this is the case on two carriers’ Airbus A350-1000s, with Etihad and Virgin Atlantic offering 35 and 34 inches of seat pitch (vs. 31 as standard), respectively.

Premium economy

Moving up a level in terms of travel classes, Cathay Pacific stands alone as the carrier whose Airbus A350-1000s provide the most legroom in their premium economy cabins. The figure given is 40 inches, representing an eight-inch bonus compared to the carrier’s standard economy class seats. They are also wider, with just eight present per row in a 2-4-2 seating configuration.

Several other carriers aren’t far behind, with premium economy seats onboard the Airbus A350-1000 offering a seat pitch of 38 inches. The list of airlines doing so includes the likes of Air Caraibes, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic, with the latter two also placing eight of these seats per row. Meanwhile, Air Caraibes’ premium economy seats are laid out seven abreast on the A350-1000.

Photo: alphonsusjimos | Shutterstock

French bee lags a bit in this regard, with its eight-abreast premium economy seats offering just 36 inches of seat pitch on the Airbus A350-1000. However, given its low-cost model, these are still its best seats onboard.

Business class

As we move into business class offering onboard the Airbus A350-1000, the legroom figures become more significant and varied. Qatar Airways sits at the top of the tree, with ch-aviation’s data showing that its QSuites offer a whopping 103 inches of seat pitch. According to aeroLOPA, these luxurious suites are laid out four abreast in a 1-2-1 configuration with either 24 or 46 of them onboard.

Second is fellow Middle Eastern carrier Etihad, whose business class seats are also laid out four abreast on the airline’s Airbus A350-1000s. While not on the level of the QSuite, the seat pitch is still a generous 79 inches.

Have you ever flown on the Airbus A350-1000? If so, with which carrier(s)? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Sources: aeroLOPA, ch-aviation.com