TheDesignAir –VantageNOVA is Thompson Aero Seating’s entry into the market for wide-body herringbone seats

Thompson Aero Seating has officially launched its much-anticipated VantageNOVA (a seat i managed to experience at AIX earlier this year). It’s a premium herringbone seat designed for twin-aisle aircraft. As the latest addition to the successful Vantage seating family, the VantageNOVA aims to revolutionise passenger experience with an innovative blend of comfort, flexibility, and customisation, tailored to the growing demands of the aviation industry.

A New Benchmark in Comfort and Design

Ross Burns, Head of Industrial Design for Thompson Aero Seating, describes the VantageNOVA as a marriage of extensive twin-aisle product knowledge and the design elements from their VantageSOLO, which is crafted for the single-aisle market. Burns highlights how the seat was “developed from the ground-up to be totally passenger-centred,” emphasising the incorporation of residential-style cues and premium comfort levels. The design team dedicated countless hours sculpting the surfaces to create an “elegant and sophisticated silhouette,” reflecting Thompson Aero’s commitment to both form and function. It’s a big step up from the previous incarnations and shows a more organic design language which is now emanating from this UK-based design firm.

A significant highlight of the VantageNOVA is its versatility. The platform allows airlines to optimise cabin configurations based on passenger demographics and preferences. With a minimum pitch offering as low as 40 inches, the VantageNOVA enables the cabin to maintain a high-density layout without sacrificing comfort. Airlines are given the freedom to configure outboard columns in either a herringbone or reverse-herringbone layout, with the central seats featuring a double reverse-herringbone configuration. This isn’t dissimilar to what Virgin Atlantic is already doing on its A350 fleet.

Ryan Graham, Principal Designer of Strategic Development, states that the impetus behind the VantageNOVA platform was to push the boundaries of twin-aisle seating by offering an innovative solution for high-density configurations, without compromising passenger experience. According to Graham, “The efficiencies found at 40 inches are only amplified at more premium pitch ranges,” making the seat adaptable for various cabin layouts and maximising airlines’ ability to tailor it to their specific needs.

Designed for Passenger Comfort

Thompson Aero Seating has placed significant emphasis on crafting thoughtful amenities that enhance the passenger’s in-flight experience. The VantageNOVA offers a suite of premium features, including preconfigured stowages with both open and closed options, a large bi-fold table, and a customisable console area which can include a tablet holder for the increasing rise in two-screen consumption. The centre seat-pairs come equipped with a full-width privacy screen, while in-suite mood lighting and IFE monitors up to 24-inches complete the immersive experience. Wireless charging and a variety of outlet options further underscore the seat’s passenger-focused design.

Another standout feature is the popular Zero-G seating position, which allows the passenger to tilt and lower their body while raising their legs, creating the most relaxing position for circulation and comfort. Interestingly the renders seems to also show two seat pan designs, one with a carve out for easier egress and another which has a straight-sided cushion which allows better comfort for passengers. The design of the seat pan seems to depending if it’s a herringbone or reverse-herringbone seat, but there are some inconsistencies in the render, so it will be interesting to see what the final production line seat will look like.

Personalisation Meets Innovation

The VantageNOVA’s pivoting monitors offer a new level of personalisation for passengers, enabling gate-to-gate IFE and allowing them to configure the space according to their needs, whether working, watching, or resting. In the outbound herringbone configuration, passengers are angled away from the aisle, enhancing privacy and extending the sleeping surface, while the reverse-herringbone layout allows for customisable space, including additional storage and an extended console.

Leading the Way in Premium Travel Solutions

Thompson Aero Seating is committed to delivering premium seating solutions, and the VantageNOVA is a clear reflection of this ethos. With its overhung doors, slimline single-skin design, and front-row configurations offering a ‘first class for free’ experience, VantageNOVA allows airlines to offer premium features without the additional cabin density typically associated with business class.

Certification is already well underway, and Thompson Aero Seating is progressing smoothly with its launch customer, with the first delivery scheduled for 2026. Additionally, the seat will undergo rigorous testing at Thompson’s on-site Dynamic Test Facility to ensure it meets the highest standards for comfort and safety.

First revealed at the 2024 Hamburg Aircraft Interiors Expo, the VantageNOVA was hailed by attendees as the standout product of the show but the official launch is set for the Aircraft Interiors Expo next year. Andy Morris, Chief Commercial Officer at Thompson Aero Seating, expresses his excitement, stating: “The VantageNOVA has created a massive buzz, and the timing could not be better as the industry rebounds post-pandemic, with unprecedented orders for twin-aisle aircraft.”

We’re thrilled to see this offering on the stage, it’s yet one more herringbone product, but although it’s one of the latest to come out, Thompson has had the added advantage to see where their competitors have succeeded and failed, and tailor a mature product that has the manufacturing heritage afforded by this well-respected seat manufacturer.