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…
Read MoreCould Vantage Solo become one of the most common seats in Business Class for the next decade?
The industry has been mooting the possibility of growth in the long-haul single-aisle market across the past couple of years, however 2020’s pandemic has rapidly escalated this conversation. These narrow body ultra-long-haul aircraft are perfectly suited for a subdued travel market across the next few years, with fewer seats and the ability to connect point-to-point…
Read MoreFlyDubai to introduce Haeco Eclipse seats to 737 Max orders
While details are scarce, it seems that according to one of FlyDubai’s latest posts, the airline is introducing a regional business class product, most likely to replace its older recline seats. While the airline has just hinted at the new product on social media, rather than a full announcement at this stage, it appears to…
Read MoreStelia’s new Opera narrow body seat might not look a game changer, but it’s a clever evolution
Stelia’s new ‘Opera’ seat has just entered the market, specifically for narrow-body single-aisle cabins. This new “Full Flat, Full Access, Full Privacy” Business Class seat claims it offers the highest standard wide-body comfort on single-aisle. Now you might be like, ‘hang on, I’ve seen reverse herringbone seats on single-aisle aircraft before, such as American Airlines…
Read MoreVantage DUO looks to upgrade the regional First Class proposition
With some 6000+ narrow-body and regional jets in the US alone, there is a huge market for ‘domestic First Class’ still, and competition is heating up at the front of the plane. Delta has just shown off its new First Class product, first announced in 2020, and the MiQ seats are starting to become commonplace…
Read MoreAccess all areas. Factorydesign creates show-stopping hybrid all-aisle-access business class seat for narrow bodies
Hot on the heels of its Vantage Solo design (now being manufactured by Thompson Aero Seating), London-based Factorydesign has revealed details about its mid-market hybrid business class seat for narrow body long-haul aircraft. Trying to navigate the economics and ergonomics of a premium product on a narrow body aircraft proves one of the most difficult…
Read MoreCould Northern Pacific take flight? If so, the Pacific will see another exciting livery in the skies
You won’t be blamed if you’ve not heard of Northern Pacific, however in the past few days it’s been making some waves as it seemingly is starting to ramp up its operations. There’s discussion of a launch event in Anchorage later in the month, where we’ll get to understand a little bit more about this…
Read MoreSAS shows off new A321LR interiors
SAS has just revealed its photos of its new A321LR cabin. The transatlantic narrow body joins the carrier’s wide-body fleet in connecting the two continents, but trying to keep the same passenger experience touch-points across fundamentally different airframes was a difficult ask. While the airline sadly hasn’t been able to provide all aisle access, by…
Read MoreJetBlue shows it means business with its new Transatlantic Mint product
JetBlue has been long touting its desire to compete on the Transatlantic market. With the recent exit of Norwegian’s long haul operations, there’s certainly a slot to be filled in competitively priced disrupters, and JetBlue has jumped at the opportunity. However, it certainly means business, trying to take a slice of the highly lucrative Transatlantic…
Read MoreCould Ascent by Adient Aerospace climb the ranks?
Like many things in the aviation industry, there are always one or two major suppliers in most cases dominating the industry, whether its Boeing or Airbus, Rolls Royce or GE and within business class seats let’s face it, Collins Aerospace or Safran, but there are just as capable competitors on the fringe. Recaro and Thompson…
Read MoreChina Eastern New A350s And Shanghai Airlines 787s Feature Impressive New Business and ‘First’ Products
Both China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines are receiving new cabin products for their latest generation aircraft deliveries. Shanghai Airlines’ 787 Dreamliner arrived at the Hongqiao International Airport, delivered to China Eastern’s affiliated Shanghai Airlines to become the carrier’s 100th aircraft. The new aircraft will initially serve domestic routes between Shanghai and Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. After that,…
Read MoreSingapore Airlines reveals its 737 interiors, with predicted flat beds in Business Class
Today saw Singapore Airlines officially launch its highly-anticipated new 737 cabin products, which will be rolled out on its Boeing 737-8 fleet in the coming weeks. Since the airline merged SilkAir back in to Singapore Airlines, there’s been a lot of anticipation on how the airline can match its impressive long-haul product with a short…
Read MoreJiatai bring new Economy and Business Class seats to the industry in partnership with Factorydesign
AVIC Cabin Services is more than just AIM altitude and Thompson Aero Seating, however those will be more familiar names than Jiatai. However, it’s one company and part of the group not to be overlooked. Jiatai’s new JT220B Business Class and JT220E Economy Class seats are a result of the company’s strategy, supported by ACS,…
Read MoreThompson Vantage Solo Offers A New Herringbone Option For Narrow-bodies
Thompson Aero Seating have recently added another seat design to its famous and well-established Vantage range. Based on an original concept from Factorydesign, the seat was designed specifically for the single-aisle market, the new seat. Called the Vantage Solo, manages to provide all-aisle access fully-flat beds at a competitive 33″ seat pitch. The seat uses…
Read MoreExclusive: Minty Fresh, Acumen’s approach to JetBlue’s latest Business Class cabin
Acumen, the London based design studio, has been working with JetBlue for several years, reimagining the passenger experience. Back in 2016 they commenced work on the new A321neo cabin, but they have also worked on the new A321LR project which graced the news this week, thanks to its innovative business class cabin featuring the new…
Read MoreTen stories we loved in 2021
As 2021 comes to a close, we take a look back at some of our most popular stories on the site this year, as well a few of our own favourites too. Do let us know what were your own personal highlights too, we’d love to hear from you. Here’s to another exciting year in…
Read MoreLATAM launches new business class dining and celebrates first 777 with new cabin products
This week saw LATAM unveil the final phases of its upgraded ‘Premium Business’ service by showcasing to press the first Boeing 777 in its fleet to feature the group’s new cabin product. The new business class service and hard product is part of a $500 million investment to improve the passenger experience and includes US$400…
Read More2019, The Game Of Thrones
While most people will be getting excited about the final instalment of the globally successful HBO franchise, 2019 will also see a range of new business class seats across the globe that will see the business class experience becoming more and more competitive with regards to the hard product on offer. With seat designers and…
Read MoreThe Rise Of A New Class, ‘Business Suites’, But Will It See The Death Of First Class?
Doors. This is where it all starts. Over the past few years, the differences between First Class and Business Class hard-products have become fewer and farther between. We’re now in an era where British Airways new Business Class product offers equal space and more privacy than its older First Class product. Airlines such as Qatar…
Read MoreTAP Portugal To Retrofit Seven A330s With Thompson Vantage Business Class Seats
While TAP Portugal‘s two A330s featuring the brand new business class product are already flying between Portugal and the USA, the airline has announced that it will now retrofit seven of its current A330 fleet with a brand new product in business class. The seats won’t be the same as the Sogerma Solstys seats found in the…
Read MoreAnnouncing the winners of TheDesignAir awards 2019
TheDesignAir is thrilled to announce the 2019 award winners as voted for by our esteemed judging panel and our readers. Year after year, we see more improvements and enhancements across the passenger experience, from narrow to wide bodies to lounges and airports around the globe. We showcase the 2019 winners here.
Read MoreLATAM Impresses With New Cabin Interiors As Part Of US$400m Investment
LATAM Airlines Group today unveiled its plan to transform the cabins and travel experience of no less than two-thirds of its global fleet with a US$400 million investment. The company will revamp the interior of more than 200 aircraft over the next two years with passengers being able to fly the first renovated aircraft relatively…
Read MoreJPA Design To Bring New Brussels Airlines Long-Haul Interiors To Life
With the recent launch of Air Belgium, legacy carrier Brussels Airlines has had to make sure it keeps its product offering competitive. Not surprisingly, they turned to JPA Design, a London-headquartered company that has brought the likes of premium carriers Singapore Airlines and Finnair to life, as well as other mid-level carriers such as Hawaiian…
Read MorePAL Rolls Out New Cabins In Their A330s
PAL’s drive to become a five-star airline by 2020 has taken a leap in the right direction. Their first aircraft to offer a true full lie-flat seat in business class has rolled out of the hangar. The A330-300, which will start flying to Honolulu this month will be offering passengers a vastly improved experience. As…
Read MoreMalaysian A350 Starts Service On Kuala Lumpur – London With New Products
Malaysia Airlines this week saw the launch of its new A350 product on its prestigious London route, with plans for it to replace the A380 product by March 2018. While this will see a capacity decrease, it will see a more contemporary product on the route, including a very intimate First Class cabin of just…
Read MorePhilippine Airlines To Invest In New Cabin Products
Philippine Airlines‘ plan to create a 5-star airline have taken a huge leap forward this week, with the announcement that they will convert the cabin lay-out of eight economy-only A330-300s to include brand new Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy class cabins. PAL is one of a few Asian carriers who have been stuck in the middle…
Read MoreTAP To Introduce New Seats On A330 Fleets
TAP Portugal is fast becoming a true contender for European Business Class travellers. The latest announcement sees the first A330-900neo aircraft being fitted entirely with Recaro aircraft seats. For those in the pointy end, passengers will be able to enjoy Recaro’s CL6710 seats, featuring fully flat beds. “In addition to ergonomic comfort, the CL6710 stands out…
Read MoreTheDesignAir Awards 2017 Winners Announced
TheDesignAir is pleased to announce the 2017 Award winners as voted for by our esteemed judging panel and our readers. This year has seen a wave of improvements around the world in the field of passenger experience. From impressive new aircraft, new First Class Suites to the smallest details found in tableware and amenity kits.…
Read MoreQantas Reveals New 787-9 Premium Economy Cabin
Today, Qantas revealed its next-generation Premium Economy seat, which will debut on the airline’s brand new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners that start flying in October 2017. In comparison to Qantas’ other Premium Economy seats, these new seats are wider and offer more functional space overall. The new seat also has a unique recline motion that provides a…
Read MoreA Deeper Look At South African’s New A330-300 Interiors
After the recent refurbishment of South African Airways‘ short-haul fleet, the carrier has now rolled out its new business class on three new A330-300’s with two more to follow. The aircraft features a brand new business and economy class product, brought to life by Priestmangoode. Just like the short haul cabins, the long haul aircraft now feature…
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