Most people will have flown on a Vantage product at some point if they’ve flown business class in the past decade, and the VantageXL is the flagship version, which has been adopted by the likes of Qantas, SAS, Delta and Philippine Airlines over the years. Understanding that passenger habits and needs have adapted in the last decade, Thompson Aero Seating has just unveiled a new and enhanced 2022 design for its VantageXL product.
The seat still features all the benefits of the original seat, including impressive personal living space, a fully flat horizontal bed, and 100% direct-aisle access, however the next generation VantageXL offers increased passenger comfort.
Featuring a seat width of 23” and a fully flat-bed width of at least 24”, it’s one of the widest in the skies, and there’s good reason it’s the seat of choice for the A350 XWB. Included in the upgrades are multiple customisable personal stowage solutions and the option of fully enclosed suite doors. Which could reflect Qantas’s Project Sunrise diagram where doors do feature.
Andy Morris, VP Commercial for Thompson Aero Seating, says: “With updated modern styling and enhanced passenger comfort, we expect VantageXL’s popularity and success in business class to continue well into the future. A launch customer is already in place with the first delivery planned for early 2023.”
The enhancements to the VantageXL include an extended aisle-side privacy wing, a new multi-function bi-fold table with PED holder and improved console surface space. The new version also offers a pivoting multi-position cocktail table, with compact closed stowage, a combined feature light and reading light with integrated headphone hook, and an easy-to-remove table cassette for maintenance. The VantageXL can now accommodate larger monitors of up to 20”. Additional options include a translucent divider and a soft touch monitor surround. The new aesthetics and styling were created in conjunction with Factorydesign.
“The Vantage XL business class seat from Thompson Aero is a hugely successful seat platform, one that was born from an evolution of the equally successful Vantage seat, with the added benefit of 100% direct aisle access. Factorydesign worked in close collaboration with the Thompson Aero team to design and develop the original XL seat platform, so it is a huge honour and pleasure to have been asked to help evolve and enhance this latest version. Bringing learnings from the last decade, and embedding current trends, we again worked in close collaboration with the Thompson team to create a truly modern, feature-packed premium seating product that I am certain will prove highly appealing to passengers, and be commercially successful for years to come,” states Peter Tennent, Director at Factorydesign.
The enriched VantageXL has retained all the features for which it became so popular, including the option of the relaxed lounge position for take-off. The configuration allows for greater individual privacy, or the ‘honeymoon’ option can be selected so that passengers travelling as a couple can enjoy the space together.
This honeymoon option was also highlighted in the Qantas Sunrise A350 product, showcasing that this could be the ideal fit for the carrier, who already has rolled out the existing VantageXL product across its long-haul fleet.
TheDesignAir 