Cabin / Seats
Korean Air’s new A380 to feature in-flight duty free store
13 April 2011 | The Airbus A380 ‘superjumbo’ provides 50 percent more floor space compared with the Boeing 747, but airlines on average install 35 percent more seats, leaving the remaining space available for roomier cabins and customized areas. Examples include First Class suites (Singapore Airlines, Emirates), onboard showers (Emirates), large bathrooms and changing rooms (Lufthansa, Air France), social areas (Emirates, Qantas, Air France and a staffed bar (Emirates). Currently five airlines operate the A380 and in June 2011, Korean Air will become the sixth airline to start flying the superjumbo (followed by China Southern in the fall of 2011).
Lowest A380 seat configuration sofar
With just 407 passengers, or 12 in First Class, 94 in Business and 301 in Economy (34” seat-pitch), Korean Air’s A380s will have the least dense A380 configuration so far. The entire upper deck will be dedicated to Business Class with a self-service bar in the front and a full service bar in the rear. First Class will be in the front of the main deck with its own dedicated bar, designed by Absolut Vodka, with the Economy cabin right behind it.
In-flight duty free store
Korean Air will be the first airline in the world is outfitting its new A380s with a physical duty-free shop. The kiosk will complement the regular duty free cart service and will be staffed by a full-time sales assistant. The store will display the best-selling items across categories such as liquor, cosmetics, accessories and fragrances and will be open for business for the duration of the flight. First Class passengers will be able to browse the shop and make purchases before anyone else, followed by Business Class and then other passengers. The orders placed by passengers will be delivered to their seats later. Read full article »
Lufthansa’s new 747-400 First Class consists of a seat and a separate flat bed
14 March 2011 | When Lufthansa introduced its first A380 to its fleet in May 2010, the airline’s new superjumbo also featured a new First Class cabin (as well as new seats in Economy). At the same time, Lufthansa also started an EUR400 million revamp of all classes across its entire fleet. For example, in December 2010, Lufthansa unveiled a ‘new European cabin’, adding slimmer, lighter seats on its short-haul aircraft.
First Class on 747-400s
Lufthansa has just announced it will also upgrade its First Class on its B747-400 aircraft. However, instead of installing the new First Class cabin introduced on its A380 last year, Lufthansa has opted for a radically different design for the new First Class on its B747-400s.
The airline is converting every window seat in its existing First Class cabin – which currently fits 16 passengers – into a permanently flat bed, reducing the total number of seats to just eight. The full-flat beds have a sleeping surface measuring over two metres in length and a top-quality mattress. Essentially the new First Class seat on Lufthansa’s B747-400 now will consist of two seats, with the upright seat appearing similar to an older version of Lufthansa’s First Class seat on the pictures. Cabin seating is configured just 1-1 with the upright seat adjoining the aisle to allow for easier meal service and socializing, while the bed is positioned alongside the window for more privacy.
First class passengers will also get 17″ monitors for inflight entertainment, temperature-regulating blankets and pillows and an amenity kit from Porsche Design. Furthermore, just like the First Class on Lufthansa’s A380s, sound-absorbing curtains and sound-deadening insulation beneath the carpet will make the cabin more quiet. Read full article »
Boeing uses 787 Dreamliner cabin design to upgrade 737 and 747 interiors
18 February 2011 | In a period of 12 months, Boeing will introduce new cabin interiors on three of its aircraft models: the 747-800 Intercontinental, the 737 Next Generation Sky Interior and the 787 Dreamliner. The interiors of the new 737 and 747 are largely derived from the cabin design innovations on Boeing’s forthcoming 787 Dreamliner, the first of which will now be delivered to All Nippon Airways in the third quarter of 2011.
747-800 Intercontinental
Boeing on February 13, 2011 unveiled the first life-size version of its new 747-800 Intercontinental (747-8i) jumbo, but in 2007 already showed a mock-up of the 747 interior. Like the Dreamliner, the 747-8i cabin will have the same curved architecture to make it airier and provide passengers more space for their luggage. Passengers enter the plane through a wide-open foyer area, making the boarding process more enjoyable. A curved staircase leads to the upper deck. Also like the 787, the 747-8i uses mood lighting to reduce jetlag, providing, in Boeing’s words, “smooth transitions for a more restful flight.” The cabin will also be a lot quieter and has larger windows.
Boeing expects to make the first flight with the 747-8i in March 2011 with certification in the fall. The 747-8i can seat 467 passengers, 51 more than the current version of the 747. Lufthansa will be the first airline to receive the passenger version of the aircraft in early 2012 and plans a 386-seat configuration (8 first, 80 business and 298 economy seats), compared to 344 for its current 747-400s.
737 Next Generation Sky Interior
In October 2010, Boeing delivered the first 737-Next Generation Sky Interior aircraft to low-cost airline flydubai. The 737 Sky Interior (the name comes from the signature blue-sky lighting) gives passengers a greater sense of space in the cabin compared to the current 737s and features mood lighting, larger stow bins, more headroom around aisle seats, sculpted sidewalls that integrate the air vent (which reduces cabin noise), larger window reveals, more intuitively placed switches and call buttons and a new flight attendant panel. Read full article »
Asiana and Turkish Airlines latest carriers to introduce inflight chefs
13 December 2010 | In 2010, airlines such as Air New Zealand, ANA and Cathay Pacific have further raised industry standards by rolling out new cabin interiors. In recent years several airlines have also been investing in ‘softer’ elements of the inflight experience, such as inflight concierges (ANZ), Sky Nannies (Gulf Air) and onboard bar tenders (Emirates, Kingfisher and Virgin Atlantic). To add an extra dimension to the inflight dining experience, airlines such as Gulf Air, British Midland and Austrian Airlines have also employed ‘Sky Chefs’ for several years. Recently, these carriers have been joined by Asiana and Turkish Airlines.
Asiana ‘Inflight Chef and Somelier’
Asiana Airlines (winner of the 2010 Airline of the Year award) has just announced a new ‘Onboard Crew Chef & Sommelier’ service in First and Business Class on flights between Seoul and Los Angeles as well as Seoul and Frankfurt. The restaurant-like service is provided by Asiana flight attendants who have acquired licenses from international cuisine schools (e.g, Le Cordon Bleu) and sommelier courses (e.g, M.C. Sommelier, Wine & Sprit Education Trust) under an airline program that supports staff to take service courses at world-class institutions.
Asiana’s ‘Chef Service’ is formed by a team of three flight attendants who wear chef uniforms and serve a variety of Canapés and Lamb Chop dishes that have been developed by themselves. As part of the ‘Sommelier Service’ flight attendants decant wines and provide guidance in chosing the wine. The ‘Chef & Sommelier’ service will initially be provided just once a month on the two routes mentioned, but Asiana says it will soon increase the number of attendants with chef and sommelier skills and expand the service to New York flights by the end of 2010 as well. Since 2006, Asiana also employs an onboard sushi chef in First Class on flights between Incheon and Los Angeles, which provides passengers with freshly made sushi as well as some ‘culinary theater’ (see also this video).
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Finnair goes on an upcycling spree
10 December 2010 | We have reported earlier on how KLM, Delta and Virgin Atlantic have teamed up with outside designers in ‘upcycling’ initiatives that gave old uniforms and aircraft seats a second life as bags and other accessories. Not only is upcycling a good way to re-use discarded materials, it also make a great story behind the new products that were created out of old aircraft interior materials. Now Finnair is the latest airline to announce a series of upcycling initiatives.
Uniforms, seat covers, seat belts, curtains and life vests
In 2009, Finnair assigned Globe Hope the task of giving a new use to the fabric of Finnair’s discarded uniforms. Helsinki-based Globe Hope specializes in the design and production of clothing and accessories from recycled materials. The dark-blue fabric used in Finnair’s jackets and ties was converted into toilet bags and Globe Hope also turned Finnair seat belts into toilet bags for men. In early 2010, Finnair also commisioned sustainable design firm EDEL City with the design of a stylish bag set from used aircraft curtains and seatbelts. In June 2010, EDEL City’s launched the first item of its so-called ‘F-air-line’ collection, a luxurious shopping bag which retails for EUR59. EDEL City says it is planning more upcycled ‘F-air-line’ items.
Furthermore, as the vivid yellow material of old life vests also lend themselves perfectly to be re-used as high-visibility safety clothing for school children, Finnair donated 200 yellow safety vests to the first graders of two local schools.
Video monitors
In another upcycling initiative, parts of Finnair’s recently retired MD-11 aircraft have been refashioned by Finnish design agency Seos Design into energy efficient LED lamps. Says Pekka Kumpula, creative director at Seos Design, “I went to have a look around Finnair’s Technical Services facilities and became especially interested in the potential of the support elements for video monitors, from which the ‘First Class / Eco Lighting’ LED lamps evolved.”
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Turkish Airlines unveils new cabin interior as part of ambitious growth strategy
24 November 2010 | Turkish Airlines (THY), Europe’s fourth biggest airline and one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, has seen passengers soar as a result of an aggressive strategy to turn Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport into a hub for passengers between Europe, Asia and Africa. One third of THY’s passengers currently transits and the airline plans to double this in the near future. The airline operates direct flights to 128 international and 39 domestic destinations.
During 2010, THY has grown its fleet from 133 to 153 aircraft, added 15 new destinations and increased passenger numbers to 31 million (up from 25 million in 2009). In the first 9 months of 2010, THY’s revenues grew by 39 percent, passengers carried increased by 18 percent, and its load factor rose 3.4 points to 74.2 percent, despite the substantial capacity increase. THY says it aims to grow 15 to 20 percent annually in the coming years, just as it has for the past seven, and is on track to become Europe’s third-biggest full-service airline by passenger numbers soon, overtaking British Airways.
Doubling number of flights within 5 years
Turkish Airlines will increase its fleet to 196 aircraft within the next five years, as part of an order of 105 aircraft. With the new aircraft, the airline targets to double the number of flights it operates by 2015 and to become one of the 10 biggest carriers worldwide. Says THY’s CEO Temel Kotil. “The company grew twofold in recent years. Now we aim at competing with companies such as Luftansa and Air France. My personal aim is to raise the number of flights to 10,000 and make THY a world leader.” CEO Kotil also stated the Star Alliance carrier would focus on organic growth to boost market share, however THY is also looking to invest in other carriers, such as Serbia’s JAT Airways or LOT Polish Airlines. It already owns a 49% stake in B&H Airlines.
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Flydubai first to operate 737 with new Sky Interior and fiber optic-based IFE system
9 November 2010 | Dubai-based low-cost carrier flydubai on October 27 became the first airline to take delivery of the Boeing 737-800 Next-Generation (737-800NG) aircraft with the new ‘Sky Interior’ installed. Derived largely from the cabin design innovations on Boeing’s forthcoming 787 Dreamliner, the new 737 Sky Interior (the name comes from the signature blue-sky lighting) aims to give passengers a greater sense of space in the cabin.
Larger bins, redesigned windows and control panels, mood lighting
The new weight-neutral cabin interior has more headroom around the aisle seats thanks to redesigned lugagge bins which, although larger, take up less space and less effort to close, thanks to a new pivot mechanism. Other design features are 787-style sculpted sidewalls that integrate the air vent, reducing overall cabin noise. Redesigned inner windows have increased the viewable area, while the actual size of the window itself has remained the same. The Sky Interior also includes a more intuitive placement of switches and call buttons and improved sound quality and clarity through new speakers in each passenger row.
Another feature of the 737NG cabin is mood lighting, which provides different lighting schemes (video here) ranging from a welcoming soft blue overhead sky simulation to a calm relaxing pallet of sunset colors. The LED-based mood lighting can be controlled via a new flight attendant panel. Read full article »
Smart design innovations that make life onboard a bit more comfortable
18 October 2010 | The A380 has 50 percent more floor space than a B747, but on average only has a third more seats, which leaves the remaining 15 percent of space available for larger seats and customized areas. This has allowed airlines to launch flagship products that have generated lots of attention, such as First Class suites, onboard bathrooms, showers, changing rooms, bars and lounges. At the other end of the spectrum, and also as a sign of more modest cabin interiors in leaner times ahead, airlines have gotten creative in designing small practical innovations that make life a bit more comfortable onboard. Some examples.
Pillows
Air New Zealand (ANZ) in January 2010 unveiled a radical new design of the cabins on its new B777-300s, including the ‘SkyCouch’ seat in Economy and the ‘Spaceseat’ in Premium Economy. The airline’s new design also extended to small comfort innovations, such as a ‘slip on pillow’ which goes over the winged headrest in Economy and eliminates the nuisance of pillows falling down and the need for inflatable neck cushions. In Premium Economy, ANZ’s new Spaceseat has no legrests, but instead features a bean bag style cushion, which the airline affectionately calls ‘Otto’ (short for ottoman). Otto can be moved around freely and enables passengers to create their own position for sleeping rather than being restrained by an uncomfortable, stiff leg rest.
Exercise
On a long flight, it is advisable that passengers stretch their legs from time to time. SAS took this advice a step further and installed a ‘stretch bar’ between the premium economy and business class cabins, so passengers can stretch their backs as well. Read full article »
Smart and light-weight designs major theme in aircraft interiors today
21 September 2010 | Last week, the Aircraft Interior Expo took place in Long Beach, California. As airlines stress weight savings to burn less fuel with higher oil prices and stricter environmental regulations ahead, the main innovations the drew attention at the show were smarter and lighter solutions in seating, inflight entertainment and onboard catering.
At the European edition of the event, earlier this year in Hamburg, MmilleniumM Group’s ‘Air Sleeper’ seat concept made headlines, and this time Italian aircraft interiors specialist Aviointeriors unveiled its ‘SkyRider’ saddle-style seat. The ultra-high density configuration lets passengers sit at an angle with just 23 inches of legroom (versus the standard 30 inches) and would allow airlines to increase passenger capacity by up to 40 percent. The seats also have a foldable shelf for carry-on bags and hooks to hang a jacket or purse. Aviointeriors is positioning the SkyRider as a seat for a new ‘basic class’ on three to four hour flights.
The novel design may draw interest from ultra low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, Spring Airlines (China) and Tiger Airways (Singapore, Australia). Ryanair recently unveiled a concept that would let passengers stand during flights, leaning against a flat padded backboard and restrained with a strap stretching over their shoulder. European regulators said Ryanair’s design would not meet safety rules as current rules determine that each passenger has to be provided with a seat or berth. Aviointeriors, meanwhile, claims the Skyrider is effectively a seat, and says that if a carrier commits to installing the new seats it will apply for proper certification.
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Monocle creates the perfect airline: Nippon Nordic Air
10 June 2010 | One of airlinetrends’s favourite magazines, Monocle has created their blueprint dream airline: Nippon Nordic Air (NNA). The global affairs magazine is well-qualified to determine what the perfect airline should look like. Monocle’s editor-in-chief, globetrotting style-meister Tyler Brûlé, has worked with BA, SWISS, and Porter Airlines, and in his weekly Financial Times ‘Fast Lane’ column points out the good and bad in airline services.
Here’s what, in Monocle’s words, the Nippon Nordic Air experience would be like: “Nippon Nordic Air is a new type of airline designed to fill a void left by legacy carriers that have run out of ideas and money and upstart mega-carriers that lack social currency and good taste. The inflight experience will be a dignified one. With three classes of services, the emphasis is on good quality throughout and a healthy flying experience. Nippon Nordic combines the flying skills of Canada’s best pilots, the design ingenuity of Sweden and Japan’s best designers and engineers and the gracious service of a Kyoto ryokan.” Read full article »
Lufthansa takes delivery of first A380 and unveils new First Class
20 May 2010 | Lufthansa has just taken delivery of its first A380 aircraft, which also features the carrier’s new First Class cabin. Lufthansa’s A380 has 526 seats, configured in three classes: eight seats in first class (the same number as on the airline’s smaller B747′s), 98 seats in business class, and 420 seats in economy class.
The airline’s new First Class offers flat-bed seats, designed with wood veneers and brown and beige leather. The flat bed measures 2.07 metres in length and 80 centimetres in width, and each passenger has an individual wardrobe. Amenity kits are designed by Porsche Design. First Class passengers will have two large bathrooms at their disposal with wash and changing areas separated from the lavatory area. The Lufthansa First cabin looks like a slimmed down version of SWISS’ First Class, which was also designed by Priestmangoode. The colors, materials and shapes used are also intended to create a smooth transition from Lufthansa’s first-class lounges to the aircraft. When departing or arriving in Frankfurt, First Class passengers are chauffeured in a Porsche Cayenne or Mercedes between the terminal and the aircraft.
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Delta upcycles aircraft seat covers into fashionable bags
18 May 2010 | Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials, which would otherwise go to landfill, into new products or materials of better quality. Companies like Tierra Ideas in the U.S and WornAgain (slogan: “Every product has got a story to tell”) in the UK work with large corporations to create fashionable upcycled products. The benefits are three-fold: waste is recycled, companies add an eco-friendly touch to their brands, and many consumers like the story behind the upcycled product.
Tierra Ideas just announced its new 2010 ‘Aero’ bags collection in partnership with Delta Air Lines. Delta has donated worn and retired seat covers, blankets and curtains from its aircraft as well as from all Northwest aircraft that were refurbished when Delta acquired Northwest in 2008. After separating the fabrics by pattern (frequent fliers will recognize the different Northwest and Delta patterns) Tierra Ideas has turned them into messenger bags (price: USD219), laptop sleeves (USD55), and duffle bags (USD62).
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Air New Zealand gives its inflight entertainment a social twist
11 May 2010 | Air New Zealand (ANZ) is giving the inflight entertainment on its new B777-300 aircraft a social twist. There’s nothing ‘2.0’ to ANZ’s new social IFE feature though. Instead, the airline wants to bring the experience of watching TV together to the back of the aircraft seat at 30,000 feet, which passengers in ANZ’s ‘Skycouch’ seats may especially appreciate.
The new ‘screen share’ feature on ANZ’s Panasonic eX2 IFE system gives passengers the option to synchronize video and music with their neighbours so they can watch and listen together. Parents can use the feature to check what their children are watching, for example. How it works: The ‘screen share’ page on the IFE system shows what other passengers in the same row are watching or listening to and passengers can choose to join in or to start the same content from scratch. It is not known if passengers can turn off the screen share option, in order to avoid nosy co-passengers tuning in. ANZ is also catering to those that carry their personal entertainment devices, as every seat comes with in-seat power and an USB connection.
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Kuwaiti ‘no-frills chic’ airline Wataniya starts flights to Europe
In a home region where Gulf Gullivers Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad are rapidly becoming major global players, Kuwaiti carrier Wataniya Airways takes a no-frills chic approach towards flying. Launched in January 2009, the airline’s fleet of A320 aircraft are configured with premium economy and business class seats only, while prices are kept low. The airline says its A320’s are configured with the lowest seat density (122 vs. 145 seats on most airlines) of any A320 used on scheduled routes in the world.
Billing itself a ‘premium service airline’ Wataniya has its own dedicated terminal at Kuwait International Airport, and passengers have Wi-Fi access as well as USB and power ports in every seat. The airline’s premium economy class offers 96 seats with a 34-inch seat pitch and the 26 business class seats have a seat pitch of 44 inch. Wataniya currently operates five A320’s, a sixth aircraft is scheduled to be received in June 2010 and a seventh later in 2010. The airline is listed at the Kuwait Stocks Exchange.
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Air New Zealand goes single class on short-haul routes and radically rebundles fares
24 March 2010 | Fierce competition on the Tasman and South Pacific routes has led Air New Zealand (ANZ) to radically overhaul its short-haul fares and service offerings. The airline has decided to remove business-class seats from its A320 aircraft that fly from New Zealand to Australia and the Pacific islands, increasing capacity by an extra 19 seats to 171 seats. Instead, the single-class A320s will have four options of service, priced accordingly.
A ‘Seat’ option allows one carry-on bag of 7kg, tea, coffee and water and access to some entertainment options but no new release entertainment. ‘Seat + Bag’ allows one carry-on bag and one checked bag, tea, coffee and water and some entertainment. ‘The Works’ offers carry-on and checked bag, meal and drinks and a seat request, and ‘Works Deluxe’ allows two priority bags, a carry-on bag, meal and drinks, a seat request, a guaranteed empty seat next to the passenger, premium check in, lounge access and better entertainment options. ANZ said a Works Deluxe airfare would be around NZD500 (EUR270, USD360) cheaper than a current business class fare and the seat-only option would be “in exactly the same place” as budget airlines. The airline is also introducing automated check-in procedures similar to those currently used on domestic flights, in which a RFID chip can be used to check in.
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