Lufthansa's new business class seats are designed like thrones

Lufthansa has unveiled designs for its new business class cabin and for once, the middle seat is the most covetable with a throne-style layout that provides two surfaces either side of it.

The seats will be configured in a 1-2-1 and 1-1-1 formation, providing direct aisle access for every passenger for the first time.

Currently, Lufthansa's business class seats are laid out in a 2-2-2 formation meaning that window seat passengers must disturb their neighbour if they want to get up.

The spacious new seats can be converted either into an extended-length bed, or one with twice as much desk space depending on the passenger's preference. 

Fully flat, beds will measure 220 cm (86.6 inches) and mould around the passenger's shoulder to keep the spine straight and, the airlines says, better facilitate 'side sleepers'.

As for in-flight entertainment, its new HD screens will be much larger than their predecessors (although by how much exactly is unknown) and can be controlled by the passenger's own personal device.

It will also be possible to charge smartphones and tablets wirelessly, according to the airline.

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The new cabins won't go into service until 2020, with the roll out of Lufthansa's brand new fleet of Boeing 777-9 aircraft, but a number of improvements are also being made to its existing business class cabins early next year - namely new mattresses, blankets and 'sleeping sweaters'.

Compared to its current models, the Boeing 777-9 has a considerably wider cabin, and on some of them Lufthansa is scrapping the first class section. This follows in the footsteps of several other airlines to have done so, including Emirates and Air New Zealand, so as to free up space for more economy seats.

Lufthansa was the first carrier to snap up Boeing's new 777-9, ordering 20 of them back in 2013. Emirates has ordered the highest number of the aircraft, 115 in total, followed by Qatar with 50. In total, 273 are on order, from other airlines including Etihad, Qatar, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines.

When it goes into service, the 777-9 will be industry's largest-ever twin-engine jetliner and 12 per cent more fuel efficient than any competing aircraft, according to Boeing. It will be capable of accommodating 414 passengers in total, with Lufthansa opting to have 45 to 60 of them in business class.

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The new model went into production in October, with the first test flight scheduled for the first quarter of 2019 and deliveries to follow that December.