Ethiopian Airlines Unveils New Business Class On A350 and 737 MAX
Ethiopian Airlines is rolling out yet another premium-cabin refresh, this time aimed at both long-haul and medium-haul flyers. The carrier has expanded its partnership with Collins Aerospace to introduce brand-new business class seats on future Airbus A350-900 deliveries, while also giving its Boeing 737 MAX fleet a long-overdue upgrade to fully flat beds. The changes should meaningfully raise comfort levels on key routes, even if Ethiopian’s trademark inconsistency across aircraft types isn’t going away.
In this post: Ethiopian’s new Collins partnership, the A350 suite rollout, the 737 MAX flat-bed plan, and what travelers should expect.
Ethiopian’s Latest Seat Deal With Collins Aerospace
Ethiopian says the upgrades are part of a broader push to modernize its onboard experience and align the hard product with its growing global network. Collins Aerospace already supplies several seat types across Ethiopian’s widebody fleet, and this expanded agreement adds two newer products designed specifically for privacy and long-range comfort.
The airline frames the move as a customer-focused investment, emphasizing better comfort, improved tech, and a more premium feel in business class. In practice, it’s another step in Ethiopian’s pattern of layering new products onto specific subfleets rather than standardizing across the board.
A350-900s Will Get Elevation Suites With Doors
The most headline-grabbing change is coming to Ethiopian’s incoming Airbus A350-900s. On 11 of its upcoming A350 deliveries, Ethiopian will install Collins’ Elevation Suite in business class.
This is a reverse-herringbone layout with sliding doors, giving passengers direct aisle access plus the kind of privacy you usually associate with the world’s top premium cabins. For Ethiopian, it’s a first: these will be the airline’s first business-class suites featuring doors.
These A350s will effectively become the new flagship for Ethiopian’s long-haul business product. The airline also intends to use the same suite concept on future Boeing 777-9s, though those aircraft are still well down the road.
The downside? Ethiopian isn’t planning to retrofit existing A350s with this seat. That means the A350 fleet will continue to feature multiple generations of business class, depending on which specific aircraft you’re assigned.
Boeing 737 MAX 8s Are Finally Getting Lie-Flat Seats
On the narrowbody side, Ethiopian is making a change many frequent flyers have been hoping for. The airline will install Collins Parallel Diamond seats on 56 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
These seats convert into fully flat beds in a 2-2 configuration, replacing the current recliner-style business class setup on most MAX flights. It’s a major upgrade for medium-haul routes, especially as Ethiopian increasingly uses the 737 MAX on longer services into Europe, the Middle East, and high-demand regional markets.
For passengers, this is a clear improvement in sleep and comfort, bringing Ethiopian’s narrowbody business product closer to what travelers expect on longer flights.
What This Means For Passengers Booking Ethiopian
If you’re flying Ethiopian in business class over the next couple of years, the key detail will be aircraft type. The newest A350s with Elevation Suites will offer the best long-haul experience in the fleet, while upgraded 737 MAX aircraft should become the go-to choice for anyone wanting a lie-flat option on medium-haul routes.
However, travelers should still expect variability. Ethiopian already operates multiple business-class seat styles across its widebodies, and this rollout adds even more layers rather than consolidating to one uniform standard. The upgrades are real, but predictability won’t be.
Bottom Line
Ethiopian Airlines is enhancing business class across two important parts of its fleet. New A350-900 deliveries will feature Elevation Suites with doors, making them the airline’s most premium long-haul business product. Meanwhile, a large share of the 737 MAX fleet is being upgraded to Parallel Diamond lie-flat seats, a significant boost for longer narrowbody routes.
The improvements are meaningful, especially for comfort and privacy, even if Ethiopian continues to prioritize upgrades over standardization.
