Ethiopian Airlines A350 Seat Map & Best Seats Guide (2025)
Updated January 2026
Ethiopian Airlines' Airbus A350 is the flagship of Africa's largest carrier, operating long-haul routes from Addis Ababa (ADD) to London Heathrow, Washington Dulles, Toronto, Frankfurt, Paris, Bangkok, Seoul and across the continent. The fleet includes both the A350-900 and Africa's first A350-1000, delivered in late 2024.
The key thing to understand: There are four very different Business Class products across the A350 fleet, three of them on the A350-900 alone:
- Type 1 A350-900 (19 aircraft, the one you will most likely get): 2-2-2 Collins Diamond Parallel, rows 1–5 — the two window passengers in each pair climb over their neighbour
- Type 2 A350-900: 1-2-1 staggered Safran Optima, rows 1–8 — every seat has direct aisle access
- Type 3 A350-900 (ET-BCD and ET-BCE): 1-2-1 Collins Super Diamond reverse herringbone, rows 1–8 — the best Cloud Nine cabin on the -900
- A350-1000: 1-2-1 Safran Optima — 46 Business seats, all with direct aisle access
Quick Verdict
- Best aircraft: A350-1000 > A350-900 Type 3 (Super Diamond) > Type 2 (Optima) > Type 1 (Diamond Parallel)
- Best seats on A350-1000: 3A, 5A, 7A, 3L, 5L, 7L (odd-row windows for privacy)
- Best seats on A350-900 Type 3: 6A, 6D, 6H, 6L — mid-cabin, and the only Business row with best-rated window alignment
- Best seats on A350-900 Type 2: 2D and 2H (the wide-set centre pair), or 2A/2L and 4A/4L for the outboard window seats. Note the stagger runs the opposite way to what most guides claim — it is the even rows that sit against the window
- Best seats on A350-900 Type 1: 3D, 3H, 4D, 4H — the centre pair, where both seats touch an aisle and nobody climbs over anyone
- Best Economy: 23A/23L on Types 1 and 2, or 22A/22L on Type 3, for the best window alignment. Row 21 is the bulkhead legroom row on all three
Ethiopian A350 Seat Specifications
Business Class (Cloud Nine) — A350-1000
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seat type | Safran Optima |
| Configuration | 1-2-1 staggered |
| Seat count | 46 seats (rows 1–11) |
| Seat width | 21" |
| Seat pitch | 44" |
| Bed length | 79" (6'7") fully flat |
| Screen size | 17.3" 4K |
| Power | AC + USB-A/C |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Ka-band) |
| Direct aisle access | All seats |
Business Class (Cloud Nine) — A350-900 Type 2 (Staggered)
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seat type | Safran Optima |
| Configuration | 1-2-1 staggered |
| Seat count | 30 seats (rows 1–8) |
| Seat width | 20" |
| Seat pitch | Staggered — no single pitch figure applies; about 11.5 sq ft per seat |
| Bed length | 79" (6'7") fully flat |
| Screen size | 16" HD touchscreen |
| Power | AC + USB |
| Direct aisle access | All seats |
Business Class (Cloud Nine) — A350-900 Type 1 (Non-staggered)
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seat type | Collins Diamond Parallel |
| Configuration | 2-2-2 (not staggered) |
| Seat count | 30 seats (rows 1–5) |
| Seat width | 20" |
| Seat pitch | 60" |
| Bed length | 78" (6'6") fully flat |
| Screen size | 17" HD touchscreen |
| Power | AC + USB |
| Direct aisle access | C, D, H and J only. A and L (windows) must climb over — but D and H are the centre pair and both touch an aisle |
| Fleet count | 19 aircraft — the most common Ethiopian A350-900 |
Business Class (Cloud Nine) — A350-900 Type 3 (ET-BCD / ET-BCE)
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seat type | Collins Super Diamond |
| Configuration | 1-2-1 reverse herringbone |
| Seat count | 30 seats (rows 1–8) |
| Seat width | 21" |
| Seat pitch | 46" |
| Bed length | 79" fully flat |
| Screen size | 18" HD touchscreen |
| Power | 110V AC + USB-A |
| Direct aisle access | All seats |
| Total seats | 337 (30J / 307Y) — six fewer Economy seats than Types 1 and 2 |
Economy Class Specs
| Specification | A350-900 | A350-1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | 3-3-3 | 3-3-3 |
| Seat count | 313 seats (Types 1 and 2) / 307 seats (Type 3) | 349 seats |
| Seat pitch | 32" | 31–32" |
| Seat width | 18" | 18" |
| Recline | 4–5" depending on seat model | 4" |
| Screen size | 10.6–11.6" HD | 11.6" HD |
| Power | AC + USB | AC + USB-A/C |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
Configurations:
- A350-900 Type 1 (Diamond Parallel): 30J / 313Y — 343 total, 19 aircraft
- A350-900 Type 2 (Optima): 30J / 313Y — 343 total
- A350-900 Type 3 (Super Diamond, ET-BCD/ET-BCE): 30J / 307Y — 337 total
- A350-1000: 46J / 349Y — 395 total
How to Tell Which Ethiopian A350 You're On
| Version | Clues on Seat Map | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| A350-1000 | Business extends to row 11 (46 seats); seat map shows ~53 rows total | Best overall — 1-2-1 with direct aisle access |
| A350-900 Type 3 | Business runs to row 8 and every row is lettered A, D, H, L — four seats abreast, angled away from the aisle | Best A350-900 — reverse herringbone, all aisle access |
| A350-900 Type 2 | Business runs to row 8 and the letters alternate: odd rows are C/F/G/J, even rows are A/D/H/L | Good — direct aisle access at every seat |
| A350-900 Type 1 | Business stops at row 5 and every row is lettered A, C, D, H, J, L — six abreast in neat pairs | Acceptable — but windows must climb over |
Priority order: A350-1000 > A350-900 Type 3 > A350-900 Type 2 > A350-900 Type 1
A quick letter check settles it before you look at anything else: if the Business cabin has a C seat, it is Type 1 or Type 2. If it only has A, D, H and L, it is Type 3. No Ethiopian A350-900 Business cabin has a K seat — several older guides list one.
Ethiopian A350-1000 Business Class Seat Map (Rows 1–11)
46 Safran Optima seats in 1-2-1 staggered layout — Ethiopian's newest and best Business Class product.
Best Seats — A350-1000
| Category | Recommended Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most private solo | 3A, 5A, 7A, 9A, 3L, 5L, 7L, 9L | Odd-row window seats with maximum privacy; mid-cabin, away from galleys |
| Best for couples | 4D-G, 6D-G, 8D-G | Even-row centre pairs are closest together; ideal for dining and conversation |
| Mini-cabin quiet | 10A, 10L, 11A, 11L | Smaller rear cabin with fewer passengers and less through-traffic |
| Quick service | 1A, 1L | First row served early |
Seats to Avoid — A350-1000
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| 1D, 1G | Directly by forward galley; more noise and light |
| 11D, 11G | Closest centre seats to rear galley and Economy curtain |
A350-1000 Seat-by-Seat Summary (Key Rows)
| Row | A (window) | D (centre) | G (centre) | L (window) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Good — quick service | Avoid — galley | Avoid — galley | Good — quick service |
| 3 | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent |
| 5 | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent |
| 7 | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent |
| 10–11 | Very good — mini-cabin | OK | OK | Very good — mini-cabin |
Ethiopian A350-900 Type 2 Business Class Seat Map (Staggered)
30 Safran Optima seats in staggered 1-2-1 across rows 1–8 — every seat has direct aisle access. Odd rows are lettered C | F G | J and sit inboard; even rows are lettered A | D H | L and sit outboard against the window. Row 8 is centre-only.
Best Seats — A350-900 Type 2
| Category | Recommended Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most private solo | 2A, 2L, 4A, 4L | Even rows sit outboard, tucked against the window with the console between you and the aisle. This is the opposite of what most guides say — the odd rows are the inboard ones |
| Best rated in the cabin | 2D, 2H | The only two seats rated green here: wide-set centre pair, mid-cabin, clear of both lavatory banks |
| Best for couples | 3F-G, 5F-G | Odd-row centre pairs are the ones that sit side by side. The even-row D/H pairs are set wide apart — better alone than together |
| Quietest | 4A, 4L, 4D, 4H | Mid-cabin, away from the lavatories ahead of row 1 and behind row 6 |
Seats to Avoid — A350-900 Type 2
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| All of row 1 (1C, 1F, 1G, 1J) | Lavatory immediately ahead — queueing traffic and noise for the whole flight |
| 6A, 6L, 7C, 7J, 8D, 8H | Lavatory immediately behind. All six rate red |
| 3C, 3J, 5C, 5J | Poor window alignment — the window sits behind the seat |
Ethiopian A350-900 Type 1 Business Class Seat Map (Non-Staggered)
30 Collins Diamond Parallel seats in 2-2-2 across rows 1–5, lettered A C | D H | J L. Functional but dated: the A and L window passengers climb over their neighbour. The centre pair D and H are the exception — each one touches an aisle, so neither climbs over anyone.
Best Seats — A350-900 Type 1
| Category | Recommended Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best in the cabin | 3D, 3H, 4D, 4H | The centre pair, mid-cabin. Both seats touch an aisle, so nobody climbs over anyone — and they are the seats rated green |
| Best for couples | 3D + 3H, or 4D + 4H | The centre pair sit side by side and each has its own aisle. The best of both |
| Quietest window | 3A, 3L, 4A, 4L | Mid-cabin, if you accept climbing over your neighbour |
| Solo, second choice | 2D, 2H | Same centre-pair advantage one row further forward |
Seats to Avoid — A350-900 Type 1
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| Row 1 (1A, 1C, 1D, 1H, 1J, 1L) | Lavatory ahead — queueing traffic and noise. Bassinets fix at 1A and 1H, so infants are likely too |
| 5A, 5C, 5J, 5L | Lavatory immediately behind. These four rate red; 5D and 5H are one step better |
| Any A or L seat travelling alone | You climb over your neighbour every time. Only worth it if the two of you are travelling together |
Ethiopian A350-900 Type 3 Business Class Seat Map (Super Diamond)
Two aircraft, ET-BCD and ET-BCE, carry a Collins Super Diamond reverse-herringbone cabin: 30 seats across rows 1–8, lettered A | D H | L, with row 8 centre-only. Every seat is angled away from the aisle and has direct aisle access. This is the best Cloud Nine cabin on the A350-900, with 26 of its 30 seats rated green.
Best Seats — A350-900 Type 3
| Category | Recommended Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | 6A, 6L | Mid-cabin window seats and the best window alignment in the cabin |
| Best centre | 6D, 6H | Same row, clear of both galleys. Angled apart, so better alone than as a couple |
| Also very good | 2A, 2L, 3A, 3L, 5A, 5L, 7A, 7L | Window seats away from the galleys; all of them rate green |
| First row | 1A, 1L | Best-rated window alignment and served first, though closest to the forward galley |
Seats to Avoid — A350-900 Type 3
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| 4A, 4L | Poor window alignment — the windows sit behind the seat. The only amber window seats in an otherwise green cabin |
| 8D, 8H | Last row, galley immediately behind — noise and light through meal service |
Ethiopian A350 Economy Class Seat Map
313 seats on A350-900 Types 1 and 2, 307 on Type 3, or 349 on the A350-1000 — all in 3-3-3, lettered A B C | D F H | J K L. There is no E, G or K-side middle confusion to worry about: the middle seats are B, F and K.
Economy begins at row 21 on every A350-900, not row 12 or 13. On Types 1 and 2 the cabin runs 21–41 and then 46–61, with rows 42–45 taken up by the mid-cabin galley and lavatories. On Type 3 it runs 21–39 and then 46–61.
Best Economy Seats
| Category | Recommended Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bulkhead legroom | Row 21 on all three variants | First Economy row. On Type 1 only 21A and 21C are fitted on each side, with unusually generous space — about 76cm to the wall. On Type 2 the full row is fitted. Tray tables live in the armrest, and there is no underseat storage |
| Second bulkhead | Row 46 (Types 1 and 2), rows 46–47 (Type 3) | Extra legroom behind the mid-cabin galley. Avoid the centre D/F/H seats — lavatories are immediately ahead of them |
| Best windows | 23A, 23L, 49A, 49L, 56A, 56L (Types 1 and 2); 22A, 22L, 50A, 50L, 57A, 57L (Type 3) | The only rows rated as having best-in-cabin window alignment |
| Quiet forward Economy | 23A, 23L through 25A, 25L | Forward of the mid-cabin lavatory bank and served early |
| Hidden extra legroom (Type 1 only) | 22C, 22J | Row 21 is fitted two-abreast, so these two aisle seats have no seat directly in front |
Economy Seats to Avoid
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| 41A and 41L (Types 1 and 2) | No window at all — solid fuselage wall, with the mid-cabin lavatory bank alongside. The worst window seats on the aircraft |
| Rows 40–41 outboard, and 39D/F/H (Types 1 and 2) | Wrapped around the mid-cabin lavatories. The centre seats in rows 40 and 41 are lavatories, not seats |
| Rows 58–61 (Types 1 and 2); rows 38–39 and 59–61 (Type 3) | Rear lavatory bank. Rows 60–61 are centre-only on Types 1 and 2, and row 61 on Type 3 |
| Row 21 outboard on Type 3 only | Unusually, Type 3 puts a lavatory immediately ahead of 21A/B/C and 21J/K/L. The same row is a good bulkhead row on Types 1 and 2 — check which aircraft you are on |
| Any B, F or K seat | No window, no aisle — the middle seats in a 3-3-3 |
What If Your Flight Becomes a 787 or 777?
Ethiopian is known for last-minute aircraft swaps. Here's how the Business cabins compare:
| Aircraft | Business Layout | Direct Aisle Access | Bed Type | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A350-1000 | 1-2-1 Safran Optima | All seats | Fully flat | Best |
| A350-900 Type 3 | 1-2-1 Collins Super Diamond | All seats | Fully flat | Very good |
| A350-900 Type 2 | 1-2-1 staggered Safran Optima | All seats | Fully flat | Very good |
| A350-900 Type 1 | 2-2-2 Collins Diamond | Aisle only | Fully flat | Good |
| 787-9 | 2-2-2 Collins Diamond | Aisle only | Fully flat | Good |
| 787-8 | 2-2-2 Zodiac Aura Lite | Aisle only | Often angled-flat | Poor |
| 777-200LR/300ER | 2-3-2 Zodiac Aura Lite | Limited | Angled-flat | Worst |
If you see a 777 or older 787-8 on an overnight sector, consider re-routing if sleep quality matters.
Known Quirks & Cabin Notes
| Quirk / Note | Details |
|---|---|
| IFE controls in armrest | On some older seats, can be triggered accidentally, occasionally calling crew |
| Type 2 rollout | Safran Optima staggered first appeared on Washington Dulles and premium Europe routes |
| A350-1000 routes | Initially London Heathrow and Lagos; expanding through 2025 |
| No air vents in Business | No individual air nozzles — cabin temperature centrally controlled |
| Wi-Fi | Ka-band Wi-Fi available; Business sometimes receives complimentary vouchers |
| Aircraft swaps common | Re-check aircraft type closer to departure |
| No Premium Economy | Two-class only (Business + Economy) |
Summary — Best Seats Overall
| Cabin / Version | Best Seats |
|---|---|
| Business — A350-1000 | Solo: 3A, 5A, 7A, 3L, 5L, 7L — Couples: 4D-G, 6D-G — Quiet: 10A/L, 11A/L |
| Business — A350-900 Type 3 | Best: 6A, 6D, 6H, 6L — Also: 2A/L, 3A/L, 5A/L, 7A/L — Avoid: 4A/4L, 8D/8H |
| Business — A350-900 Type 2 | Solo: 2D, 2H, or 2A/2L and 4A/4L — Couples: 3F-G, 5F-G — Avoid: row 1, 6A/6L, 7C/7J, 8D/8H |
| Business — A350-900 Type 1 | Best: 3D, 3H, 4D, 4H (centre pair, both on an aisle) — Windows: 3A/3L, 4A/4L — Avoid: row 1, 5A/5C/5J/5L |
| Economy | Legroom: row 21 bulkhead and row 46 — Best windows: 23A/23L, 49A/49L, 56A/56L — Avoid: 41A/41L (no window), rows 58–61 |
FAQs
What is the seat pitch on Ethiopian A350?
Business Class geometry varies by variant: the A350-1000 measures 44" pitch, the A350-900 Type 3 (Super Diamond) 46", and the Type 1 (Diamond Parallel) 60" — the Type 2 staggered cabin has no single meaningful pitch figure. All convert to fully-flat beds of 78–79". Economy is 32" pitch and 18" wide on every A350-900.
What are the best seats on Ethiopian A350 Business Class?
On the A350-1000: Odd-row windows (3A, 5A, 7A, 3L, 5L, 7L) for maximum privacy in the 1-2-1 layout.
On A350-900 Type 3: 6A, 6D, 6H and 6L — mid-cabin, and the only row with best-rated window alignment.
On A350-900 Type 2: 2D and 2H, the wide-set centre pair. For a window, take an even-row seat — 2A, 2L, 4A or 4L — because it is the even rows that sit outboard against the window on this stagger, not the odd rows.
On A350-900 Type 1: 3D, 3H, 4D and 4H. They are the centre pair, and each one touches an aisle, so you never climb over anyone. Take a window (3A, 3L, 4A, 4L) only if the two of you are travelling together.
None of the A350-900 Business cabins has a K seat, despite what several other guides list.
Does Ethiopian A350 have lie-flat seats?
Yes. All A350-900 and A350-1000 Cloud Nine seats convert to fully-flat beds (78–79" length). On 787-8 and some 777s, seats may be angled-flat — a noticeable downgrade.
How do I know which Ethiopian A350 variant I'm on?
Check the seat map:
- A350-1000: Business extends to row 11 (46 seats), seat map shows ~53 rows total
- A350-900 Type 3: Business runs to row 8, four seats abreast, lettered A, D, H, L
- A350-900 Type 2: Business runs to row 8, four abreast, with the letters alternating C/F/G/J on odd rows and A/D/H/L on even rows
- A350-900 Type 1: Business stops at row 5, six abreast, lettered A, C, D, H, J, L
What are the best Economy seats on Ethiopian A350?
Economy starts at row 21 on every A350-900, and row 21 is the bulkhead legroom row. Row 46 is a second bulkhead row behind the mid-cabin galley — though avoid its centre seats, which have lavatories immediately ahead. For window alignment the best seats are 23A/23L, 49A/49L and 56A/56L on Types 1 and 2, or 22A/22L, 50A/50L and 57A/57L on Type 3. Avoid 41A and 41L, which have no window at all, and the rear rows from 58 back.
Does Ethiopian have Premium Economy on the A350?
No. Ethiopian operates the A350 in a two-class layout only: Cloud Nine Business and Economy. Some extra-legroom Economy seats are sold at a surcharge, but there's no separate Premium Economy cabin.
How common are aircraft swaps on Ethiopian?
Aircraft swaps between A350, 787 and 777 are not rare, particularly on connecting itineraries via Addis Ababa. Re-check your aircraft type closer to departure. If you see a 777 or 787-8 on an overnight sector, consider contacting the airline about alternatives.
Which other airlines have the same Business Class seat?
The Safran Optima seat (used on A350-900 Type 2 and A350-1000) is also found on airlines including Lufthansa (Allegris) and other carriers. The Collins Diamond Parallel (Type 1) is used by many airlines worldwide.