Gallery: New seats offer refreshed designs

Lufthansa’s new Airbus A350-900 is the first aircraft in its fleet to offer guests an improved Business Class. All seats have direct access to the aisle, can be easily and quickly converted into a two-meter-long bed and offer more storage space. In addition, travelers have significantly more space in the shoulder area. The introduction of the improved Business Class marks the beginning of an extensive renewal of Lufthansa's cabins. Next year, the airline will introduce a new top product in all travel classes, Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First Class.

Recaro Aircraft Seating’s SL3710 economy seat is taking off on Cebu Pacific Air’s first A330neo. Through the end of 2025, a total of 16 A330neo aircraft will be delivered to the Philippines-based airline, with 459 pax of the SL3710 installed on each aircraft.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) revamped the seating on its Boeing 787-9 aircraft with enhanced Safran premium and economy seats, including personal screen monitors (expanded to 13.3 in. for economy class), for domestic passengers. In addition, the number of premium seats has increased from 18 to 28.

AVIC Cabin Solutions and Singapore Airlines are partnering on a Business Class product for the carrier’s latest Boeing 737-8 aircraft, which includes Thompson Aero Seating’s Vantage seating and AIM Altitude’s front row monuments. The unique layout of the Vantage Business Class seats features alternating rows of double and single seats that recline directly into fully flat beds in a forward-facing configuration. This design maximizes utilization of the aircraft real estate while offering a spacious feel to the cabin and higher levels of comfort.

Virgin Australia on Nov. 12 exclusively unveiled its new interior design prototype, featuring a refreshed seat experience, which will initially be trialed on two of the airline’s nine new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Mirroring the configuration of Virgin Australia’s existing Boeing 737-800 fleet interior, eight new Business Class and 162 Economy seats have been fitted with the distinctive new horizontal rib design, providing guests added support and comfort when they fly. Business class seats will feature an extra recline of seven inches, up 40% from current seats, and a customizable leg and footrest. Economy seats feature a seatback device holder. Upgrades to Economy X are available, with 40% more legroom.

Flydubai shared images on LinkedIn of the HAECO Eclipse seat for its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. HAECO describes the Eclipse Cabin as transforming travel in short-haul business class and long-haul premium economy by utilizing an “innovative layout and design. This elevates the overall passenger experience by increasing privacy and comfort while maximizing passenger places for airlines. The Eclipse Cabin further enhances flying by providing more stowage space for amenities and crew baggage, freeing overhead bin space.”

British Airways has selected Collins Aerospace to upgrade its fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft to the Club World experience for business class passengers. The agreement includes installation of the Club Suite business class seat, the Club Kitchen and a new cabin configuration. Collins will also perform full-cabin integration work—including engineering design, test and approval—along with program management and third-party supplier approvals. Some of the modified aircraft are already flying; the upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of 2022. The retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft will be operating from London Heathrow.

Bogotá-based Avianca has introduced a new interior configuration of its Airbus A320 aircraft with three types of seats: Recaro Aircraft Seating’s premium (pictured), plus and economy. The premium seat will be available from the 2022 first half. The first fully reconfigured aircraft will be ready during the second quarter of 2022. With the cabin redesign, the airline said it will offer 20% more seats, allowing for lower prices and a 13% reduction of CO2 emissions per passenger.

SalamAir, has introduced Luban seating across its Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet. The front row seats in both the aircraft types are dedicated to the new Luban seating class, which also features an array of add-on services, including priority check-in; free 14KG check-in baggage allowance; free hot meal and seat selection; free lounge access at Muscat International Airport; and free reservation modification and cancellation up to 24 hours prior to departure.

Austrian Airlines is increasing the size of its premium economy cabin on its Boeing 767 fleet from 18 to 30 seats per aircraft. The Austrian carrier will reconfigure its entire 767 fleet in the first quarter of 2022. Austrian’s premium-economy product includes a larger seat made for Lufthansa Group, with more legroom, a footrest, a separate central armrest with fold-out table and a cocktail table. Premium economy passengers also have a 12-inch screen IFE system, as well as in-seat mains and USB power. Other benefits include two inclusive pieces of checked luggage, a welcome drink, three-course inflight catering and an amenity kit.

Recaro Aircraft Seating (Recaro) SL3710 economy class seat has taken off on Wizz Air’s new Airbus A321neo. A total of 146 shipsets will be delivered to the Hungary-based airline through 2027. “Not only are these seats comfortable and durable, but due to their lightweight design they support Wizz Air’s goal to reduce its emissions by 25% withing the decade,” Wizz Air EVP & group COO Michael Delehant said.

Lufthansa Group subsidiary Air Dolomiti has selected Geven’s ESSENZA seat model for the Italian regional carrier’s retrofit program on 15 Embraer E195 aircraft. Featuring a blue and turquoise eco leather dress cover, high literature pocket, a recline up to 3 in. and an ergonomic seat cushion, Air Dolomiti said the ESSENZA RJ will represent the “perfect and sophisticated solution for enhanced passenger comfort. A reliable design maximizes living space and comfort for passengers while minimizing maintenance costs for airlines.” The ESSENZA RJ seats, which are scheduled to be delivered in 15 ship-sets on E195s, will be installed starting December 2021 until March 2022. The first aircraft retrofitted is expected to fly in January 2022.

Air China has order 10 shipsets of Recaro Aircraft Seating’s CL6720 business-class seat for its new fleet of Airbus A350s. First delivery is planned for the 2022 second quarter.

Recaro Aircraft Seating will install two shipsets of its CL3810 economy-class seat on Qatar Airways’ Airbus A321neo fleet from the end of 2022. Recaro calls the CL3810 “a combination of innovative ergonomic technology, premium comfort cushions with layered foam, and lightweight smart engineering” and said the seat weight was reduced by more than 15% compared to the CL3710, which can save airlines thousands in fuel costs and optimize cabin performance.

AJW Group launched AJW Technique Interiors after signing 10-year partnership agreement with Autostop Aviation, which manufactures SkyLeather synthetic leather seat covers. AJW Group aid, “SkyLeather, available in any color and grain, is a new cost-effective, lightweight, and unparalleled product boasting advanced durability, soft to touch, antimicrobial and, with easy clean technology. The Polyurethane synthetic leather is both vegan and eco-friendly.”

Air Canada Rouge provided a sneak peek of the cabin interior that will be available on nine Airbus A321 aircraft of the 39-aircraft Rouge fleet, with the first entering service later this fall. These nine aircraft feature a new contemporary interior design with playful Rouge brand accents and will be configured with leather seats, with 30-inch seat pitch in the economy cabin (pictured). The A321 Rouge aircraft also offer upgraded personal power options, including USB-C ports, and a personal electronic device holder integrated into the seatback.

UK-based Virgin Atlantic is adding economy seats to members of its Airbus A350-1000 fleet on certain vacation routes. The aircraft’s new configuration offers 397 seats: 16 business suites; 56 premium-economy seats; and 325 economy seats. Within the economy cabin, 45 seats will offer extra legroom, priority boarding and advanced seat selection.

Canadian regional Porter Airlines completed the cabin refurbishment of its 29 De Havilland Dash 8-400s that included replacing existing seats with the new Expliseat TiSeat, which is both thinner and about 50% lighter. The changes trim each aircraft’s empty weight by about 1,000 lbs., which cuts both fuel burn and CO2 emissions. Other changes include new carpeting, lavatory enhancements, new sideboards and updated LED lighting.

Cathay Pacific Airways selected HAECO Cabin Solution’s Vector Economy seats for the Hong Kong-based carrier’s new single-aisle Airbus A321neos. According to HAECO, the seat has comfort-enhancing features including an ergonomic headrest, a folding tablet holder/smartphone ledge, an 11.6-inch HD video screen, and USB-A and USB-C charging ports.

Italian seat manufacturer Geven and UK headquartered design consultant PriestmanGoode have unveiled the first design in their new range of next-generation aircraft seats. The new Elemento Economy seat is part of a new line of next-generation seats with features that focus on passenger benefits, allow for airline customization, and are easily configurable for different aircraft types.

Lufthansa is offering economy-class passengers on select long-haul flights the option of booking a Sleeper’s Row at the check-in or at the gate. This offer enables passengers to reserve an entire row of seats for themselves, consisting of three to four adjacent seats, for the flight. Passengers also receive a pillow, blanket and mattress topper of Business Class quality. It has a special seat belt, which remains fastened even when the passenger is lying down, including separate safety instructions. Lufthansa offers the Sleeper’s Row on long-haul flights of approximately 11 hours or more. The surcharge is between €159 and €229 ($188.50 and $272) per route. A maximum of three Sleeper’s Rows are offered per flight. Reservations in advance are not possible.

AVIC Cabin Services’ Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, in partnership with Factorydesign, has developed a new business-class and an economy-class seat. The JT220B business-class seat is 22.4 in. wide and offers up to 20 degrees of recline and different leg rest options. Passengers have the option of two types of wing around the headrest or a fixed divider. The JT220E carbon fiber composite economy-class seat is available with four headrest options.

Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A321neos feature a new Regional Business Class. The seat consists of a hard-shell recliner seat that provides a cocoon-like feel with divider screens for maximum privacy, while the 15.6-inch 4K Ultra-HD personal TV screens offer an incredible inflight entertainment experience. Meanwhile, the Economy Class seats feature 11.6-inch 4K personal TV screens along with a generous recline, comfortable seat cushions and new adjustable headrests. Cathay Pacific has already taken delivery of four A321neos, and will receive a further two during the second half of 2021. There will be a total of 16 A321neos in its fleet by the end of 2023. The aircraft has a total of 202 seats, including 12 in Business Class and 190 in Economy Class.

Qatar Airways’ new Boeing 787-9s feature Adient Ascent Business Class Suites that are equipped with sliding privacy doors, wireless mobile device charging and a 79-in. lie-flat bed. Arranged in a herringbone pattern, in a 1-2-1 configuration, the Doha-based carrier said each suite has direct aisle access with a sliding door to ensure the ultimate in privacy and comfort. Passengers seated in adjoining center suites can slide the privacy panels away at the touch of a button to create their very own enclosed private space.

Omni Air International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group, unveiled “Omni Class,” a new premium travel class on its Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft. Omni Class has multiple standalone throne seats, which include the B/E Aerospace Diamond seat for the 767 and the Thompson Vantage seat for the 777.

The first of Aeroflot’s new A320/A321 fleet took flight for the first time on May 25. Delivery of the aircraft includes a total of more than 10,000 Recaro seat pax and will continue through 2028. The economy seats feature leather dress covers and the business class seats are covered in fabric and leather for an enhanced comfort experience. The CL4710 seat (pictured) was designed for medium and short-haul flights. With a 21-inch seat width and oversized tray table, the business class seat provides ample room for working passengers. The award-winning seat also offers passengers a high level of comfort through the IFE system and power ports, ergonomic backrest with a 5-inch recline, and adjustable calf-rest. The BL3710 seat features enhanced neck support, innovative tray table design and weighs less than 10 kilograms. The modular design of the economy class seat allows for maximum freedom in layout configuration and keeps operation costs low.

Recaro Aircraft Seating has integrated its SL3710 and BL3710 into a hybrid layout on TAP Air Portugal’s (TAP) new Airbus fleet. TAP was the first announced customer for SL3710 seat, and its A320 is the first Airbus aircraft to be equipped with the economy class seat. TAP took delivery of its new A320 in April 2021 and entered into service May 18. In an effort to maximize efficiency, Recaro collaborated with TAP on the hybrid seat configuration of the SL3710 and BL3710.

The Expliseat TiSeat E2 economy-class seat has been added to the Airbus A320 buyer-furnished equipment (BFE) product catalog. The company says the TiSeat E2 seat—40% lighter ad longer lasting than mainstream alternatives—offers the most eco-efficient seating solution. The seat frame is made from carbon fiber composite and titanium. The TiSeat E2 is comprised of two product lines: S-line offering featuring efficient features for six-hour flights and X-line, more versatile, for long and extra long-range segments.

Delta Air Lines plans to outfit its Boeing 767-300 aircraft with Premium Select cabins in May and Airbus A330 fleet beginning mid-July. Both fleet types will also receive additional upgrades such as refreshed lavatories, new LED cabin lighting, expanded personal power outlets and memory-foam comfort cushions. Both aircraft will now have four cabin experiences to give customers more options whether booking for business or leisure: Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has started the complete renewal of the cabins of 14 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, for both business and economy class. Pictured, left, is the old cabin; the right is the new one. The refurbished aircraft, which are mainly used for European flights, offer passengers more comfort and style and consume less fuel because the renewed cabin weighs 700 kilos less. The first refurbished aircraft has already gone into service. In March 2022, the interior of the last in this series of 737-800s will be completely transformed. All activities are carried out by KLM’s Engineering and Maintenance division.

New York-based JetBlue Airways took delivery of its first of 13 Airbus A321LR aircraft featuring Airbus’ new Airspace interior. Airspace brings to the A320 family the following cabin enhancements: customizable hero lighting; slimmer sidewall panels for extra personal space at shoulder level; better views through the windows with their redesigned bezels and completely integrated window shades; full LED lighting technologies; large overhead bins; and new lavatories with hygienic touchless features and antimicrobial surfaces.

JetBlue Airways placed its first Airbus A220-300 into scheduled service with the first revenue flight from Boston to Tampa, Florida. JetBlue’s A220 is outfitted with the Collins Meridian seat, customized around customer feedback and featuring a number of design elements with comfort and convenience in mind. And, in a first for the airline’s fleet, seating is arranged in a two-by-three configuration. The A220 has a nearly 30% lower direct operating cost per seat than the JetBlue’s existing Embraer E190 fleet.

Turkish Airlines’ LCC AnadoluJet has retrofitted 17 Boeing 737-800s with TSI Seats’ Elesa S model economy class seats. TSI has delivered five shipsets to AnadoluJet. The Elesa S model, with its lightweight design, offers less fuel consumption.

HAECO Cabin Solutions obtained FAA Technical Standard Order (TSO) certification for Vector Light, the newest member of its Vector seating line for single-aisle aircraft. The seat has a weight of 7.9kg. HAECO said, “Utilizing a patent-pending primary structure and making intelligent use of advanced materials, such as titanium and flexible slotted body-contouring carbon fiber, this ‘design-forward’ seat maximizes available cabin space and enhances passenger comfort through a comprehensive ergonomic approach and offers living space at a narrow pitch."

New York-based JetBlue Airways, which will introduce the Airbus A321LR single-aisle aircraft on transatlantic flights to London later this year, has said the aircraft will be equipped with Collins Meridian seats in economy class. The 114 seats are 18.4 inches wide and offer 32 inches of legroom. Four rows of Even More Space seating provide up to six inches more legroom. Unlimited, free high-speed Wi-Fi will be provided by Thales AVANT and ViaSat-2 connectivity.

Recaro Aircraft Seating’s lightweight SL3710 seat made its North America debut on Frontier Airlines’ new Airbus A320neo on March 23. Weighing in at 8 kilograms, the seat is the lightest member in the economy class seat market and supports Frontier’s mission of being “America’s Greenest Airline.” Denver-based Frontier is slated to receive 156 A320neo and A321neo aircraft over the next six years, which will be equipped with 186 and 240 SL3710 seats, respectively.

Pictured: CL4710 business-class seats. Recaro Aircraft Seating has received additional orders to outfit Alaska Airlines’ (Alaska) new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with 13 shipsets of the CL4710 business-class and BL3530 economy-class seats. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in July 2021. Alaska is the first carrier to order more 737 MAX aircraft after it was cleared by the FAA. Recaro said the BL3530 “offers passengers premium comfort and innovative amenities, and its low weight appeals to customers because it contributes to reduced fuel consumption and minimizes the aircraft’s carbon footprint.”

Recaro Aircraft Seating is entering the regional jet market with its first Embraer installation. The BL3710 and SL3710 seats will be retrofitted on the Embraer E190 and line fitted in Brazil on the Embraer E195-E2 for KLM Cityhopper, the regional arm of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. KLM Cityhopper is the first regional jet customer for Recaro. Slated for a Q1 2021 delivery, the BL3710 and SL3710 seats are positioned in a hybrid layout on the E190 and E195-E2 KLM Cityhopper regional jets. The E195-E2 is configured with 132 seats, while the E190 has 100 seats.

UK aircraft design specialist PriestmanGoode has designed all-new cabin interiors for Greek carrier Aegean Airlines’ new fleet of Airbus A320neos. In a nod to the airline’s Greek cultural and architectural heritage, its recognized and popular gull insignia was modernized and incorporated into the new brand identity. The gull motif was incorporated into subtle patterns on cabin textiles and on the front and rear of the cabin. A stitch pattern in both business and economy cabins reflects the symmetry of classical Greek architecture and what the consultancy describes as the duality between the sky and Aegean Sea. Carpets and cabin décor foils feature abstracted patterns inspired by the country’s landscape, while brand panels feature a 3D representation of the twin gull logo.

UK-based design consultancy Tangerine has created an onboard experience that caters both to the specific tastes of the domestic Japanese market while also appealing to the international passengers that JAL is hoping to attract. The design strategy, Infused Essence, captures the essence of Japanese culture and identity and embodies it in a contemporary travel experience aimed at Japanese and international passengers. For example, at the front of the cabin, the bulkhead wall has a pleated architectural form inspired by origami, which diffuses the cabin’s feature lighting.

Seat manufacturer Geven is working with UK design agency PriestmanGoode on a new family of next-generation aircraft seats for economy, premium economy and business class. The project includes a complete overhaul of Geven’s catalog products and aims to provide the manufacturer with a distinct design language driven by key attributes: functional, timeless, clean and sculptural. The new seats will provide Geven with a versatile offer that will enhance the passenger experience, is easily configurable for different aircraft platforms and allows for airline customization.

Recaro Aircraft Seating signed an extension contract with Airbus for the delivery of SWIFT economy class seats for its Airbus A320 family aircraft with predefined economy class seats BL3530. Recaro offers predefined and pre-certified versions of its BL3530, BL3710 and CL4710 seats, and provides various dual-class cabin configurations of the SWIFT family of seats. Optional seat features range from comfort packages and in-seat power solutions to tablet holders and ELeather colors. The SL3710 is the lightest seat in the market and is slated to join the Airbus SFE catalogue soon.

The first Uganda Airlines Airbus A330-800neo has taken off with supplier Geven’s Piuma AQ Economy and Comoda AQ Premium Economy Class sustainable seats. Installed in a 2-3-2 configuration, Comoda AQ is a passenger-centric comfort seat with large and reclining 8” backrest.

JetBlue has unveiled a redesign of its Mint premium product as the New York-based airline prepares for transatlantic service this summer from New York to London. The new redesign, onboard JetBlue's Airbus A321neo business-class cabin, features 24 private suites with a sliding door. In addition, a 16-seat layout will debut on a limited number of flights between New York and Los Angeles this year. This is the first significant change to the Mint cabin—designed in partnership with Acumen Design Associates—since its launch in 2014. With the new product, every seat is a suite, which includes a tilting 17-inch Thales AVANT seatback screen, wireless charging capabilities, an integrated phone ledge for multitasking, and easy-to-reach in-seat power, as well as laptop, shoe and handbag stowage. • JetBlue is the launch customer for Thompson Aero Seating’s VantageSOLO seat, a single-aisle seating solution with a herringbone configuration developed and designed specifically for narrowbody aircraft and further customized for JetBlue. • JetBlue tapped Tuft & Needle to shape the entire Mint sleep experience onboard. Additional sleep amenities include a convertible blanket with a built-in foot pocket, a memory foam lined pillow with a pillowcase, and a snooze kit with a matching eye mask and earplugs.

Nigerian carrier Air Peace will take delivery of three Embraer E195-E2s this year, becoming the launch customer for the type in the African continent. These are part of the more significant order for 13 of the big E2s and 17 purchase rights. Air Peace is also the first to configure a premium cabin with Embraer’s staggered seat option. Each of the 12 business-class seats is slightly offset from the other to give more space and privacy. There are three rows of seats arranged two-by-two at 51-inch pitch. Passengers by the windows have unobstructed access to the aisle.

London-based Factorydesign has revealed a new business-class seat that allows passengers to easily access the aisle in narrowbody long-haul aircraft. Factorydesign said this new wedge-shaped approach to seat layout “allows both window and aisle seats to share the back of the forward window seat’s shell, while a purposeful corridor between the seat pairs allows for a rearward exit for the window passenger.” At a pitch of 47” the seat boasts a configuration that allows for 40 passengers between doors 1 and 2 of an Airbus A321LR.

HAECO Cabin Solutions has seen an uptick in interest in its previously introduced Eclipse Premium Seat, which in the pandemic era encourages social distancing in twin-aisle premium economy and single-aisle first-class configurations. The staggered layout offers unmatched privacy, comfort and distancing between passengers. According to HAECO, operators will enjoy the advantages of a more flexible layout of passenger accommodations, up to 14% additional pax count in the same footprint on several aircraft models, and the economic benefits associated with increased desirability of short-haul business class and long-haul premium economy.

Jamco Corp. has launched its newest Venture Pristine clean solution for the aircraft interior. Venture Pristine is Jamco’s latest option for its Venture business-class seat for commercial aircraft, which incorporates the latest antimicrobial and antiviral material finish solutions. According to Jamco,every aspect of the Venture Pristine trim and finish option helps to maximize cleanliness during flight while also allowing sanitizing the seat after use both easier and more effective.

Safran’s newest mid-range economy class seat, the Z110i, has been certified on Embraer E-Jets. The versatile Z110i is equipped with a large range of pre-certified options allowing to cover a wide range of applications and airline preferences. Safran said airlines can choose Z110i as a very light seat with no recline to a fully comfortable seat with all the options. It is also an efficient solution with an overall light weight, available in short lead times and with a reduced parts count for ease of maintenance and enhanced reliability.

Adient Aerospace has completed its head injury criterion (HIC) certification and received European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) approval for its Ascent business-class seat. The wide-body business class seat is available in a portfolio of arrangements that provide passenger separation & privacy. The company said Ascent can be configured with optional doors to enhance passenger separation & privacy and with a generous set of customizable features to meet a wide range of customer needs.

Emirates Airline unveiled a brand-new Airbus A380 premium economy cabin product, with enhancements and a refreshed look across all cabins onboard its newest A380 aircraft. The seats, PL 3530, have been manufactured by Recaro Aircraft Seating. The Dubai-based airline received its newest A380 aircraft from Airbus’ Hamburg facility in December, and its remaining order of five A380s will also be delivered with premium economy cabins over 2021 and 2022. Emirates’ premium economy seats will also be installed on some of its Boeing 777X aircraft, which are scheduled to join the fleet in 2023. Emirates is considering plans to retrofit its existing A380 fleet.