Gallery: New Cabin Interior Designs, IFE Systems on the Scene

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.

JetBlue’s new Airbus A220-300, which was delivered Dec. 31, 2020, has unveiled its new cabin interior. It is outfitted with the Collins Meridian seat, customized around customer feedback and features 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. Whether traveling as a couple or a family, JetBlue’s newest plane has multiple seating options for all party sizes. The interior includes: 140 seats with an expanded width of 18.6 inches, the widest available for a single aisle aircraft and the widest in JetBlue’s fleet; six rows of Even More Space seating; enhanced cushion comfort and adjustable headrests with premium Ultraleather, a softer, more breathable vegan leather material; contoured seatback design at knee level creating additional living space for every customer; custom-designed seatback storage with mesh pockets, perfectly sized for water bottles and loose items; and easy-to-reach in-seat power, featuring AC, USB-A, and USB-C ports.

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.

Malaysia Airlines’ frequent flyer program, Enrich, has launched a new online shopping platform called Enrich Shoppe. Powered by RebateMango, Enrich Shoppe provides a fun, easy and quick way for Enrich members in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines to earn Enrich Miles for purchases from over 500 e-commerce brands such as Tumi, Sephora, Michael Kors, Watsons, JD Sports, Uniqlo, Cotton On, and many more. This partnership adds significant value and provides convenience for Enrich members to instantly earn up to 10X Enrich Miles earned for every USD1 spent on Enrich Shoppe. These acquired Enrich Miles can be utilized to redeem for flights, hotel stays via Enrich Hotels and Temptations’ inflight duty-free products, as well as a variety of lifestyle vouchers, exclusive dining vouchers or add more comfort to their next travel by redeeming them for seat upgrades and Golden Lounge Access.

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.

Delta Air Lines finalized a deal with Viasat for the satellite operator to supply high-speed Wi-Fi to more than 300 mainline narrowbody aircraft. Viasat systems will be installed on Delta’s Airbus A321ceo, Boeing 737-900ER and select 757-200 aircraft. The Atlanta-based airline expects to bring the Viasat technology onboard these aircraft starting summer 2021, with the option to add additional fleets.

ABC International has developed a new fully customizable adjustable headrest, called Boom, to give passengers support “just where they need it.” Many options and variants are available, including a choice of colors, foam densities. The Italian manufacturer says the Boom headrest fits with every seat and comes with protective disposable covers for passenger hygiene and safety.

A major deal between Frontier Airlines owner Indigo Partners and Recaro Aircraft Seating will see 32,600 Recaro SL3710 seats installed across 156 Airbus A320neo Frontier aircraft beginning in March 2021. The partnership is the Denver-based LCC’s latest action to reduce the company’s environmental footprint as the new seat design features a 30% weight reduction over existing seats. The new seats will feature extra comfort, along with redesigned armrests and a larger tray table that will provide added space for laptops, reading materials and other personal devices.

Abu Dhabi-based charter RoyalJet has incorporated HAECO Cabin Solutions’ novel in-seat package stowage systems, allowing cargo to be carried in the passenger cabin of its Boeing 737-700 aircraft. HAECO Cabin Solutions provided the Supplemental Type Certificate for the equipment and installation, and the United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority granted operational approval to operate the aircraft with both cargo and passengers, greatly enhancing RoyalJet’s operational flexibility.

Boutique content service provider Aeroplay Entertainment was selected by Air India to provide complete inflight entertainment (IFE) content. customized content will offer a complete inventory of movies and television shows from across the world in various international and regional languages, including English, Arabic, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.

Bluebox Aviation Systems delivered the first integration of wireless inflight entertainment (W-IFE) software into the Airbus Open Software Platform (OSP). Deployed with customer Titan Airways, an independent charter airline in the UK, the system was part of a line-fit OSP installation on the carrier’s first new Airbus A321LR delivered from Airbus to Titan on Oct. 26, 2020.

Dublin-based lessor Avolon placed an order with Recaro Aircraft Seating for 20 shipsets of the BL 3530 SPRINT seat, consisting of 15 shipsets for use on Airbus A320 aircraft and 5 shipsets for the Boeing 737NG aircraft. The seats will be delivered in the first half of 2021.

Thales has introduced “Ready to Fly”—a portfolio of solutions for a safer and healthier travel journey. The Ready to Fly portfolio of solutions offered by Thales are designed to help our airline customers restore passenger confidence in air travel during the crisis and in a post pandemic world. The Ready to Fly “touchless” solutions allow passengers to safely control the inflight entertainment system with their personal phone or tablet for a full IFE experience, including digital versions of onboard paper menus, magazines and important safety and health information. To reduce physical interactions with the crew, while maximizing services, the Thales Travel Assistant solution will enable passengers to request and receive automated information on the seatback monitor. The crew will also have the ability to gather information, receive notifications and control the cabin from their own secure personal phone or tablet.

Singapore LCC Scoot will introduce inflight mobile portals for all customers from end-December 2020. Scoot’s fleet of Boeing 787s and Airbus A320s will be installed with AirFi Aero Wi-Fi-boxes in overhead bins to power the inflight Wi-Fi system, known as ScootHub. Available on the passenger’s own mobile devices, ScootHub enables customers to access digital inflight menus, duty-free catalogues, magazines and play games. Scoot said ScootHub will not only reduce physical touchpoints, giving passengers and staff greater ease of mind, but will also cut down the consumption of more than 156 tonnes of paper, translating to over 13 tonnes of fuel savings and over 41 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

PriestmanGoode created a virtual reality (VR) experience of the Pure Skies Room to showcase every inch of the design.

Lufthansa will make available its newest product, the “Sleeper’s Row,” during a November-December 2020 trial period on the Frankfurt-São Paulo route. Passengers flying in economy class have now the option to book an adjacent row of seats—from 3 to 4 seats—to lie down comfortably and have a good night of sleep while flying. On top of the additional comfort and personal space, passengers who book the offer will also be entitled to priority boarding and will receive from our crew a topper, a blanket and a pillow in business class quality.

Recaro Aircraft Seating has revealed KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) as the launch customer for the SL3710 economy class seat on Embraer and Boeing aircraft. KLM ordered more than 5,500 seat pax of the SL3710 and nearly 2,000 seat pax of the BL3710, which are slated for delivering starting in February 2021. The Recaro seats will be retrofitted on a number of Embraer E190 and Boeing 737-800, and will be linefitted on the Embraer E195.

3M and Safran Cabin will partner to design cleaner aircraft cabin interiors for “Travel Safe,” a joint initiative of Safran Interior companies to verifiably elevate the hygiene of aircraft interiors. Safran will certify 3M technology that enhances cleaning and protection features of aircraft cabin equipment and provides the capability to mitigate or improve the removal of bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. These solutions can be permanently embedded into aircraft interior surfaces during the manufacturing process, or they can be applied to upgrade existing interiors. The exclusive partnership will leverage the research capability of both companies to realize a shared vision for seamless, safe and stress-free travel. It’s expected that these new aerospace materials will be available in 2021.

Air Cargo became the North American launch customer for HAECO Cabin Solutions’ passenger aircraft interior stowage devices, which it introduced in April. The FAA-approved system will enable the carrier to use passenger aircraft in a cargo-only configuration by filling main cabin passenger seats with an additional 13,500 lb. of cargo.

Middle East Airlines (MEA) has a contract with Germany-based Recaro Aircraft Seating for CL3710 and CL5710 seats, for business class and economy class, respectively. The seats will be installed in its Airbus A320/321neo family aircraft fleet.

MEKCO Group was named as the North/South American distributor for Airfi’s inflight entertainment & communications system (IFEC) and will operate as AirFi America Inc. Additionally, the company announced launch customer Eastern Airlines, which will have the Airfi system installed in its Boeing 767/777 fleet.

Bluebox Aviation Systems and dnata catering Australia signed an MOU to develop and market offerings based on the deployment of Bluebox wireless IFE solutions across Australia, New Zealand and a number of other Pacific Ocean territories. The companies will support each other in product customization and processes for delivering joint solutions to customers in the region. “IFE as we knew it was already evolving to deliver so much more than in-flight entertainment, and COVID-19 expedited our delivery of touch-free payments for on-board retail and the digitization of materials that support ancillary revenue generation, such as digital menus and magazines which provide significant advertising revenue for airlines,” Bluebox business development director David Brown said. “Now, though we have the expertise in the passenger interface, content integration, secure payments and the wireless technology to deliver it all, by partnering with dnata catering we can expand the platform further into the onboard logistics systems, integrating the catering and retail elements they provide.”

STELIA Aerospace launched its new business-class seat, OPERA, which is specifically designed for single-aisle aircraft. The company says the new seat is the widest full-flat bed available on single-aisle aircraft. It includes: An extra-large 20” monitor screen; Increased privacy with a fully integrated door; Extra stowage capacity: a closed amenity stowage and a laptop stowage zone; and A large and stable meal table stowed under the cocktail table.

United Airlines became the first US airline to introduce an interactive map feature powered by Google Flight Search Enterprise Technology. Customers can access Map Search on United.com to easily compare and shop for flights, based on departure city, budget and location type, including popular national park, skiing and cultural destinations. This new digital tool displays fares in a map view, allowing customers to simultaneously compare travel to a variety of destinations in a single search.

India’s Vistara offers inflight Wi-Fi internet connectivity onboard Boeing 787-9 international flights on flights between Delhi and London Heathrow. This makes Vistara the first Indian airline to offer the service. The service will be available free to all Vistara customers for a limited period. Vistara also plans to introduce the service on its Airbus A321neos, subject to regulatory approvals. The wireless connectivity system by Panasonic Avionics on Vistara’s Dreamliner allows passengers to access the internet on all Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones, tablets and laptops.

Recaro Aircraft Seating’s CL3710 economy class seat is taking flight on Gulf Air’s new A321neoLR aircraft. This is the first of 29 aircraft to be equipped with the CL3710 seat, which are slated for delivery over the next five years. The CL3710 combines lightweight material with ergonomic design, appealing to both airlines and long-haul passengers. Recaro said the holistic design is comprised of the six-way adjustable headrest, extended seat bottom, seamless flip cushion for enhanced lumbar support, and a 30-inch seat pitch. The seat’s modular design ensures minimal maintenance and its competitive weight contributes to fuel efficiency. From left: Gulf Air CFO Sahar Kamran Ataei, Gulf Air CCO Ahmed Abdulla Janahi, Gulf Air CEO Maher Salman Al Musallam, Recaro CEO Mark Hiller, Recaro VP-sales EMEA Bernhardt Seiter and Recaro regional sales director Erdogan Gültekin.

Tokyo-based LCC ZIPAIR selected Panasonic Avionics to provide inflight connectivity for its Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The LCC is a 100% subsidiary of Japan Airlines.

IFE provider Immfly launched an industry-first onboard digital service developed in partnership with GetYourGuide, the travel experience booking platform. The new service makes it possible for airline passengers to book experiences with GetYourGuide through Immfly’s inflight digital platform—even while aircrafts are out of range of internet connectivity. The new service gives travelers an engaging new way to plan their visit to their chosen destination, while providing airlines with a new channel to increase ancillary revenues and enhance the onboard experience. While flying, passengers can browse and choose from GetYourGuide’s catalog of over 60,000 bookable travel experiences, including walking tours, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket-list experiences, and niche offerings not found anywhere else, as well as special incentives with skip-the-line tickets to some of the most iconic attractions around the world.

Emirates Airline’s Airbus A380 Onboard Lounge and Shower Spa resumed operations with the introduction of additional health and safety measures. The A380 Onboard Lounge, which serves first- and business-class customers, transforms into a take-away bar with limited seating capacity and social distancing protocols in place. Customers can also order from their seats. The social areas in business class on select Boeing 777 aircraft and in first class also re-opened with pre-packed snacks for customers to grab and go.

FlightPath3D, the global leader in moving map innovation and technology, announces today that Flying Over Places is now included as a new view in all 3D map products. A retrofit is available for all existing 3D map installs. FlightPath3D President Duncan Jackson said, “Flying Over Places significantly expands our map feature set with the integration of over 50,000 points of interest (POIs) that auto-play as the flight progresses, providing historical information about landmarks, attractions, and places as they're flown over en route.”

Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC selected the French aircraft seat manufacturer Expliseat to develop a family of lightweight economy seats to be installed on new ARJ21 aircraft. The new seat, which has been certified, is based on the latest TiSeat E2 seat platform in carbon fiber composite and titanium made by Expliseat. For the passenger comfort, new state-of-the-art innovations include a new recline mechanism that will make the TiSeat E2 the world’s lightest reclining seat. The seat is 40% lighter than the best equivalent competitor’s certified seats.

Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW) was selected by Airbus as a Digital Design, Manufacturing and Services (DDMS) program early adopter that will see EFW actively engage alongside Airbus in shaping the future of the aerospace industry. EFW said that DDMS provides an innovative set of processes, methods and tools to ensure effective collaboration, digital continuity and value creation along the width and breadth of the entire aircraft lifecycle. It holds the promise of faster and cost-effective design and production, better services and improved customer satisfaction.

Qatar Airways as the launch customer for Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s new EcoFW 10” inflight entertainment (IFE) upgrade program. The seatback IFE monitors on the airline’s fleet of 37 Boeing 777 aircraft will be updated with Panasonic’s new EcoFW 10” monitor upgrade—creating a next-generation HD passenger experience while extending the life of the fleet’s IFE system, and reducing operational costs.

FACC is now supplying the entrance area for the entire A320 aircraft family. The completely redesigned entrance area of the A320 family has a sophisticated appearance, and makes important contributions to consistent weight optimization with innovative fiber composite materials. The cabin solution comprises the entire lining of the entrance and door area in the front, middle and rear sections of the aircraft. Through a sophisticated integration of the lighting system, called “Hero Light” and newly introduced by Airbus in the airspace cabin, a completely unique and pleasant interior atmosphere is created for the passengers—and this throughout from the entrance area via the main cabin to the rear service area of the aircraft cabin.

UK LCC easyJet has partnered with gategroup, provider of airline catering solutions and pre-order/inflight/and post-flight retail services, to launch a winter trial of its Epax digital retail solution. This is the latest market-leading innovation from gategroup working in partnership with its long-term analytics partner, Black Swan Data. The introduction of Epax will offer airline customers an intuitive, convenient and engaging way to access inflight retail services, allowing them to browse, order and buy from inflight retail ranges, all from their own mobile devices. For the first time anywhere in the world, passengers will be able to access a full on-board retail offering in one location from their own personal device, keeping physical contact with equipment or material onboard to a minimum.

JetBlue announced the first major refresh of its JetBlue Mint service, the airline’s premium travel experience. The New York-based airline, has introduced a completely new lineup for Mint, including Delicious Hospitality Group, Tuft & Needle, Wanderfuel and Master & Dynamic. JetBlue’s newest Mint partners will encourage discovery with high quality food, expertly curated premium amenities and purposeful, custom-for-JetBlue products.