Inside China Airlines Boeing 777-300ER

Taiwan-based China Airlines will begin flying long-range Boeing 777-300ER jets later this year with new business class, premium economy and economy seats, but no first class cabin.

The new flagships will make their inaugural flights between Taiwan and Hong Kong from October 1, picking up other Asian routes including Bangkok before stretching their wings on a new direct service to New York followed by Los Angeles, San Francisco and Frankfurt.

China Airlines' Boeing 777-300ERs will carry 358 passengers split across three cabins, with an interior created by award-winning Taiwanese architect Ray Chen.

Chen will also oversee the interior of China Airlines' new Airbus A350s, and has already said that the A350's style will be less staid and more "brisk" than that of the Boeing 777-300ER.

China Airlines Boeing 777-300ER business class

Business class is the biggest upgrade for China Airlines, as the Boeing 777-300ER will feature fully lie-flat beds instead of the 'sloping sleepers' of the current fleet.

The 40 business class seats are a modified version of B/E Aerospace's Super Diamond model set in a 1-2-1 layout so that every passenger has direct access to the aisle.

Designer Chen says that the texture of the persimmon tree's grain will decorate the cabin walls, with books and Taiwanese tea supplied so that passengers feel like they are sitting in their own study or a teahouse (admittedly, a teahouse with LED mood lighting).

Each seat gets a generously-sized 18 inch video screen with a 4.1 inch 'second screen' on the handheld controller, while AC and USB sockets will keep your travel tech charged during the flight.

The cabin will also include a 'quiet zone' – not that business class can get especially rowdy in the first place – with a walk-up bar.

China Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Sky Lounge business class bar

The Sky Lounge is a walk-up bar for business class passengers, taking a leaf from the social playbook of Emirates and Etihad.

It's a self-serve bar, rather than staffed by a mixologist, which also boasts a selection of snacks and books.

China Airlines Boeing 777-300ER premium economy

The 62 premium economy seats look to be a definite cut above their low-cost economy cousins, and are designed with a fixed-back shell into which the seat reclines and slides forward.

Each features a leg rest and foot rest, 12.1 inch screen, AC and USB power sockets plus what China Airlines claims to be an "iPad-friendly" tray table.

China Airlines Boeing 777-300ER economy

The economy section includes 20 three-seat rows which fold out into a 'Family Couch', as shown in this cabin mock-up.

This is the same design as Air New Zealand's Skycouch, which China Southern has licensed from the Kiwi carrier.

With the footrests and armrests raised the Family Couch's total area measures 140cm long and 64cm wide.

The economy cabin is believed to be configured in a standard 3-4-3 layout.

All economy seats use a slimline design from Zodiac Aerospace with a 32 inch pitch and a recline up to 116 degrees, compared to the current 106 degrees. Each passenger gets a 11.1 inch HD video screen.