Last night I flew LX340 from ZRH to LHR.

The aircraft was an A320, but the safety card described it as an A320E. The seats in C were also different from the Recaro seats which are now the norm on LX. I also noticed that there were sockets for headphone for IFE.

Was this an ex Swiss Sun aircraft? How many others are in the LX fleet?

I actually found the seats to be very comfortable.

Yes, it has been an ex-Swiss sun a/c. There are 3 in the fleet: HB-IJU/V/W.
They have headphones for the IFE and an outside camera installed.

Personally I find the seats to be less comfortable than the new Recaro seats and remember a - for my back - painful flight from LIS to ZRH among others.

KA.

Does this explain why HB-IJV only has the Swiss title on the plane? I was on it the other day and thought it was a real nice plane to be in.

I am interest to know whether the LX fleet developments, older model replacement (if any since 2005) and the new routes they announce have all been decisions made by LX management in Switzerland or whether LH are deeply involved in those kinds of choices?
Iam thinking mainly of the futures of BD, SN and maybe OS but perhaps LX is a standard too high for the new ones (maybe apart from OS) to use as the new family member pattern.

[Edited 2008-12-28 05:29:59]

Quoting TFFIP (Reply 2): Does this explain why HB-IJV only has the Swiss title on the plane? I was on it the other day and thought it was a real nice plane to be in. I am interest to know whether the LX fleet developments, older model replacement (if any since 2005) and the new routes they announce have all been decisions made by LX management in Switzerland or whether LH are deeply involved in those kinds of choices? Iam thinking mainly of the futures of BD, SN and maybe OS but perhaps LX is a standard too high for the new ones (maybe apart from OS) to use as the new family member pattern.

Those 3 A320's HB-IJU/V/W were delivered in 2003/4 and were original operating under the titles SWISS SUN. LX got rid of this subsidary name for it's charter operations in 2005 or 6 and since then those 3 planes are fully integrated into normal SWISS scheduled flights. However especially for longer charter flights, eg Egypt or the Canary Islands those aircraft are used due to the IFE.

LX is stil lan independant airline to most degree with their own management and planers. Nevertheless at the end of the day especially when it comes to fleet decisions the final word comes from LH. For instance the A330-300 which LX will start to receive from next year to replace the A330-223's were originaly odered by LH and most of the order were transfered to LX, the order was even increased from 9 to 11 planes for LX in the past months. Hence future fleet developments for OS will depend on LH as well, hence i will not be suprised if in the longer term OS will have an all Airbus / Embraer / CRJ fleet.

Regarding LX we will see some developments in the next couple of years regarding replacement of it's regional fleet which will start probably by 2011 and 2012. This will be followed by starting the replacement of ti's A32S fleet with new models of the same type or even with a successor model from both Airbus or Boeing depending when LX plans to replace their European Airbus fleet which is already on average over 10 years old.

I have been on 3 variations. One is the old style seats like this ::





I actually find then comfortable.

And then there are Slimline Recaro seats and another version that look a bit like the new Recaro seats and same colour but different.

What colour were the ones on your flight?

Quoting OA260 (Reply 4): One is the old style seats like this

You won´t find these anymore. All A320 which had these seats (which are the original SR-seats) have been reconfigured with the new Recaro seats.

KA.

Quoting LXA340 (Reply 3): For instance the A330-300 which LX will start to receive from next year to replace the A330-223's were originaly odered by LH and most of the order were transfered to LX, the order was even increased from 9 to 11 planes for LX in the past months.

Not quite correct:
The first 9 A333 were ordered by LH/LX and were always intended to be operated by LX (in exchange for the A332). The last 2 A333 were indeed ordered by LH and intended to be operated by LH (in exchange for the 2 A343 which are sold to the German government) but have been transferred to the LX-order recently.

KA.

Quoting LXA340 (Reply 3): Those 3 A320's HB-IJU/V/W were delivered in 2003/4 and were original operating under the titles SWISS SUN. LX got rid of this subsidary name for it's charter operations in 2005 or 6 and since then those 3 planes are fully integrated into normal SWISS scheduled flights. However especially for longer charter flights, eg Egypt or the Canary Islands those aircraft are used due to the IFE.

Found a couple of photos;

MyAviation.net photo: Photo © Patrick Hofmann

MyAviation.net photo: Photo © Patrick Hofmann

Regards
CROSSWIND

Quoting Ka (Reply 5): You won´t find these anymore. All A320 which had these seats (which are the original SR-seats) have been reconfigured with the new Recaro seats.

Do you know when the last one was changed because another Irish Anetter was on an Aircraft recently with the above interior? My pics were taken last year.

Quoting Crosswind (Reply 7): Found a couple of photos; M

I have seen those seats but without the control units so now there are 4 types of seat on the LX fleet lol...

Quoting Ka (Reply 6): The first 9 A333 were ordered by LH/LX and were always intended to be operated by LX (in exchange for the A332). The last 2 A333 were indeed ordered by LH and intended to be operated by LH (in exchange for the 2 A343 which are sold to the German government) but have been transferred to the LX-order recently.

Oh, I see. Thanks for the clarification. 9 Planes always seemeed to little to me as the current A330 fleet of LX has 10 planes, but 11 also makes sense as by 2011 I am sure the wconomic situation should allow LX to start another long haul route. That suggests on the other hand that LH has decided to expand rather more defensive over the next couple of years or so?

Quoting OA260 (Reply 4): And then there are Slimline Recaro seats and another version that look a bit like the new Recaro seats and same colour but different. What colour were the ones on your flight?

The old convertible seats pictured in your photos have all been replaced. The seats on the 3 ex-Swiss Sun A320s are the same colour as the Recaro seats on the other A319/320/321s, but I agree with the other poster that they're less comfortable. They're installed at the same pitch but due to their bulkier design there is less effective leg/kneeroom than with the lightweight Recaro seats.

Quoting Ka (Reply 5): You won´t find these anymore. All A320 which had these seats (which are the original SR-seats) have been reconfigured with the new Recaro seats

I'll have to correct you on that one: I flew on HB-IJU last thursday (25dec) ZRH-TLV, it was definitely this A320E, and definitely did not have the new slimline recaro seats, but the older ones as shown in OA260 pics.

Quoting CastropRauxel (Reply 11): it was definitely this A320E, and definitely did not have the new slimline recaro seats, but the older ones as shown in OA260 pics.

LOL.... the plot thickens. Good that you got the Reg . so we can note it.

Quoting CastropRauxel (Reply 11): I'll have to correct you on that one: I flew on HB-IJU last thursday (25dec) ZRH-TLV, it was definitely this A320E, and definitely did not have the new slimline recaro seats, but the older ones as shown in OA260 pics.

Unfortunately no.
HB-IJU never had the original SR-seats (shown by OA260). U/V/W were delivered with the seats shown by Crosswind. And still have these seats - I just walked through IJU parked infront of my office...

KA.

The last A/C I flew to have those old seats were ::



They had special safety cards.

As luck would have it I was on JV yesterday and also wondered about the seats - I thought ALL 32S have been refurbished. Found the seats not worse than the new ones.

Quoting OA260 (Reply 14): The last A/C I flew to have those old seats were ::

I think that aircraft (HB-IJH) had been with TK after the collapse of SR but LX either took it back or leased from the lessor after TK were finished with it. Seems like it was pressed into service before it was refurbished to LX standards. I think it now has the standard LX Recaro slim-line seats.

Brian.

Quoting Cambrian (Thread starter): Last night I flew LX340 from ZRH to LHR.

Nice, I flew LX327 LHR-ZRH last night  

Quoting CastropRauxel (Reply 11): Quoting Ka (Reply 5): You won´t find these anymore. All A320 which had these seats (which are the original SR-seats) have been reconfigured with the new Recaro seats I'll have to correct you on that one: I flew on HB-IJU last thursday (25dec) ZRH-TLV, it was definitely this A320E, and definitely did not have the new slimline recaro seats, but the older ones as shown in OA260 pics.

I think you are confusing the issue. The reference in Reply 5 to "you won't find these anymore" was referring to the old ex-Swissair convertible seats as pictured in Reply 4. Those are the seats that have all been replaced with the new lightweight Recaro seats except on the 3 ex-Swiss Sun A320s which still have the seats pictured in Reply 7.

Quoting BrianDromey (Reply 16): I think that aircraft (HB-IJH)

Oh ok . In the last two months though another Irish Anetter deffo said he had old seats and told me the Reg but I forgot it .

Quoting SandroZRH (Reply 17): Nice, I flew LX327 LHR-ZRH last night Wink

You flew or you were a passenger  

Quoting OA260 (Reply 19): You flew or you were a passenger

haha, as pax