SInGAPORE_AIR From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 13606 posts, RR: 25 Posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 33667 times:
I had the pleasure of visiting the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg on 31 March 2009. I though it would be nice to take some time to share some of my highlights from the Expo.
We'll start off with some of the products we are already familiar with and then go on from there.
Note: you may want to hold the Ctrl button when clicking the pictures to load the photos in a new tab as I am not sure if it will automatically open a new window
B/E Aerospace manufactured Cathay Pacific's First Class toilet facilities which feature a classy tap (fawcett??) and sink.
Here is the relaunched B/E Aerospace seat for Japan Air Lines. Apparently it's more space efficient somehow. The recline is not shown unfortunately but there is an incline of eleven degrees (perhaps reduced to eight inflight. For comparison, Singapore Airlines' SpaceBed has an incline of eight degrees (again, perhaps reduced to five inflight)).
Marc Newson's wonderful creativity manifested in the B/E Aerospace manufactured Qantas SkyBed. Note the wonderful "design language" confounding any "designer's neurosis" that Newson may or may not have had. It was comfortable but I didn't think much of the massage function despite trying to play with the intensity.
Not much to say about this one. I think it's Qatar's fully-flat Business Class product manufactured by B/E Aerospace.
Not many pictures but the product is known anyway. This appears to be United Air Line's new J in what appears to be a sports-car stylised theme. That privacy screen is a bit useless though !
This is Contour's (part of Premium Aircraft Interiors Group) Aura product. Apparently the best-selling J seat for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. There are more pictures here
Here is Sicma Aero Seat's Majesty product which some of you may recognise as Emirates' A380 J. There are some differences: no mini bar, I think the armrests are different and the table comes out from under the PTV in front of the pax (no picture I'm afraid!).
This is the Weber 7811 seat which some may recognise as Singapore Airlines' New Regional Business Class. A very well designed and comfortable seat with features that have obviously been learnt from their New Business Class. One-touch seat->bed and vice versa feature would have been nice (if my memory serves me correctly).
I'm not sure what product this is but it was made by Weber.
Voila / hier ist Swiss' New Business Class. Very nice, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. This was on the Lantal Textiles stand. Lantal make the pneumatic cushioning which allows the passenger to make the seat harder or softer. While I'm sure it actually does work, after playing with the seat for about two minutes and varying the intensity of the softness and firmness, I didn't feel any difference between firm and soft. I did hear the pneumatics clicking which meant something was happenning though if that's any consolation.
Similarly, here is basically the same product but on the Thomson Aero Seating stand. It's the Vantage (manufactured by Contour in partnership with Thomson). The product is well-known but here's a picture to show the space for one's feet / legs. Thomson has also redesigned the table so that it is still generously-sized but can now swivel 360 degrees (I suspect this is something that was instigated by feedback from the other Thomson-inspired product, EK's A380 J).
Recaro had a big stand with many premium and economy class products. However the debuted their "Phantom". Unfortunately their stand was very busy but nonetheless here's a view of their cabin lay out plan of sorts. More information available at their News Release.
This was an interesting concept that caught my eye by Rucker (a German company). It's a First Class concept. Yes, that is a sink (well, the bowl at least) and a mirror. An impressive product but before someone cries "OTT" the company did make it clear that it was a concept. I assume it is to show what they can do and what one could do with the concept's footprint.
Here is the Solstys by EADS Sogerma. It is similar to Etihad's Business Class product which is called the "Pearl". The Solstys has been selected by THAI Airways for their Airbus A380. First impressions were good. The bed was comfortable to lie in and was quite long. It is a space-efficient product but I was undecided on whether passengers would want the tray table there (even though it is unobtrusive).
Below are some captures from the Solstys brochure.
Here is one of my personal favourites (and one of those to watch according to FlightGlobal Blogger Runway Girl) - the Cirrus by Sicma Aero Seat and designed in conjunction with James Park Associates (who also designed the Singapore Airlines SkySuite, New First Class and New Business Class). A sufficiently wide product which was comfortable to lie and sit in. You will note the space for a mini-bar (not refrigerated) and the convenient positioning of the various connectivity ports and IFE controller. If I remember correctly, the maximum size of the PTV is 15.4" which is more or less standard nowadays. The table is very large and more importantly, it swivels allowing one to leave the seat during a meal service. It is indeed a very impressive product. I can also reveal that it has been chosen by US Airways and a carrier in the Far East. Some people at Singapore Airlines will be pausing for thought - oh dear.
Below are two videos. One shows that the triangle thing can be lowered to create more elbow room in bed mode. The second shows me slightly struggling with the table while filming:
[Sorry, for some reason I am not allowed to embed the videos]
And below are some selected images from the Cirrus brochure:
What is this?
Well Sicma Aero Seat was one of the companies working on the Singapore Airlines Suites. Obviously they have used that knowledge and have created this: MYAH which stands for Make Yourself At Home. Note the good privacy and the storage space (though I'm not sure if that is large enough for some passengers). That is a real bed. Unlike the Singapore Airlines Suites, this bed does not have to be deployed. If I recall, the bed is 26cm wide. I can't remember how long but it was sufficient. Also in the last picture you will see that the bed for the seat/bed/cabin behind is actually lower and part of the bed lays below the bed in front. In addition, that is the maximum the seat can recline. I have to add that the Sicma representative was kind enough not to laugh too much as I bumped my head hard against the bulkhead when trying the bed! Alas, I have no brochure for MYAH and no pictures of the table.
I end with the following because I think it sets a new standard in passenger comfort.
This was my first time experiencing the Thomson Cozy Suite. It has been chosen by Delta Air Lines for some of their aircraft. I am quite sure that the pitch you see there is 31" and the seat width is 17.9". However, the seat seemed much more spacious akin to a 19" wide seat (such as Singapore Airlines' New Economy Class) and the legroom was definitely generous. It's a fixed-shell design and it DOES RECLINE (contrary to some perceptions). There is a bar underneath the seat cushion which allows the passenger to recline in the same fashion as the JAL Premium Economy seat does. Further, the seat pan is automatically recessed into the seat which eases greatly movement for the middle and window seat passengers making it a more pleasant experience for all.
The seat has passed certification with more than flying colours and can also house the IFE which I think negates the need for even a slimline IFE box.
At 11-abreast on an A380. the Thomson Cozy Suite allows airlines to pack more people in (and earn more revenue) while, in my opinion, improving passenger comfort to those travelling Economy Class compared to existing products. It is an excellent product that I am confident will please in terms of spaciousness and comfort, not to mention innovation. Any airline that takes this product in its most basic form is taking a step in the right direction in my opinion.
Thank you for reading.
01 OCTOBER 2009: This user has retired from aviation to the status of lurker. Thanks Airliners.net for some great times
FlyASAGuy2005 From United States, joined Sep 2007, 2188 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 33561 times:
Awesome post!
I was taking my time looking at all the photos and your captions, but in the back of my mind, wondering where the Thompson staggered seats were! In this day and age, we sre have come a long way from what was the industry standard just 10 years ago.
My only question is, now that they (the Thompson seats) have been certified, when was DL's projected introduction into the fleet? Can we expect it to be the norm stright out of the factory on newer, larger a/c say the 77L as they aquire more over the next few years? I am also a strong believer that they will pick up a handfull of 773 but who knows. I would imagine it will come on those to increase Y capacity.
CAM2:"Lightning coming out of that one." CAM1: "What?"
United1 From United States, joined Oct 2003, 3112 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 31323 times:
Great coverage and pics of the expo....
Quoting SInGAPORE_AIR (Thread starter): Not many pictures but the product is known anyway. This appears to be United Air Line's new J in what appears to be a sports-car stylised theme. That privacy screen is a bit useless though !
I think that's what CO is putting on their aircraft, UAs seats are a bit different then what's shown although they may be made by the same manufacturer.
Adam42185 From United States, joined Dec 2005, 306 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (7 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 24855 times:
those staggered seats are intriguing. I am interested to fly in an aircraft with them to compare and contrast the different options. I think this new design will work well and will give the solitary passenger more privacy as they wont be *right* next to the adjacent passenger.
9MMAR From Malaysia, joined Jul 2006, 1673 posts, RR: 20 Reply 12, posted (7 months 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 23252 times:
Wonderful thread!
Quoting SInGAPORE_AIR (Thread starter): the Cirrus by Sicma Aero Seat ... I can also reveal that it has been chosen by US Airways and a carrier in the Far East. Some people at Singapore Airlines will be pausing for thought - oh dear.
Propilotjw From United States, joined Mar 2000, 568 posts, RR: 10 Reply 14, posted (7 months 3 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 15837 times:
I still don't see how a person sitting in the window seat gets out of the row to go to the lav when there are people sleeping in the middle and aisle seats. The way that the seat cushion slides up is great but it only works when the seat is not occupied.
Most of us have been in a situation where we have to wiggle our way out of the window seat while our seatmates are fast asleep.
Quoting Propilotjw (Reply 14): still don't see how a person sitting in the window seat gets out of the row to go to the lav
Hmm yes - I forgot to see how that would work. But I'm guessing it's just like now where, if the pax aren't sleeping, you have to all get out and let the window pax move through. But it's easier as the seat pans are less obtrusive.
Quoting FlyASAGuy2005 (Reply 1): when was DL's projected introduction into the fleet?
A quick look on the Thomson Aero Seat site seems to indicate 2010.
Quoting United1 (Reply 6): think that's what CO is putting on their aircraft
Oh indeed. Apologies - I got the two mixed up. You are certainly correct.
Quoting SQ772 (Reply 10): Are you working for THE airline now?
Alas, I have no interest or desire to join the airline industry !
Smi0006 From Australia, joined Jan 2008, 671 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (7 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 14933 times:
Quoting SInGAPORE_AIR (Thread starter): The table is very large and more importantly, it swivels allowing one to leave the seat during a meal service. It is indeed a very impressive product. I can also reveal that it has been chosen by US Airways and a carrier in the Far East.
Now this is interesting to hear, what aircraft would US be placing them on their A330s? I believe their 767s just got new seat anyway? How interesting, when may we begin to see them?
CHRISBA777ER From Singapore, joined Mar 2001, 4926 posts, RR: 62 Reply 20, posted (7 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 14743 times:
Quoting Teahan (Reply 19): Quoting CHRISBA777ER (Reply 18):
I'd love to hear what you do for a living that excites and interests you more than airliners - must be some career!
Rumour has it the sanitary pad industry is quite absorbing...
Whatever you're up to Singapore_Air, hope it's lots of fun and keeps you getting up in the morning with a or even .
Travel writer perhaps? Either way - i hope you are having fun and flying often!
DocLightning From United States, joined Nov 2005, 7122 posts, RR: 44 Reply 23, posted (7 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 11967 times:
Quoting SInGAPORE_AIR (Thread starter): Recaro had a big stand with many premium and economy class products. However the debuted their "Phantom". Unfortunately their stand was very busy but nonetheless here's a view of their cabin lay out plan of sorts. More information available at their News Release.
I don't understand the benefit of this layout. Unlike Thompson, it doesn't appear to allow for greater packing. But the staggering of the seats does make each row take up more room, even if they stack in the same pitch as a straight row. So it appears to me that the layout here would cost more than it would make. Unless you're going to use staggering to overlap passengers a bit, a-la Thompson, there's no point to it.
FlyASAGuy2005 From United States, joined Sep 2007, 2188 posts, RR: 1 Reply 24, posted (7 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 11600 times:
Quoting Oceanic (Reply 13): These are valuable increases given the continued growth in average passenger size (particularly US nationals)
Quoting Jush (Reply 17): The thomson cozy looks great. hopefully this will be a standard economy product in 10 years of time. or even better.
Considering that they are saying that it will increase comfort and capacity, I think it will. Maybe in even less time as that. All but eliminates the need for slimline.
JAL From Canada, joined Apr 2000, 4351 posts, RR: 9 Reply 25, posted (7 months 2 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 10857 times:
Wow! So many wonderful pics! Very Nice!
Work Hard But Play Harder
26 SInGAPORE_AIR: Thank you Well there is not press release to be seen but I am sure they will announce it when they see fit. Unfortunately, I did not ask them what ai
27 BA744PHX: No apologies needed you already provided more then enough info thanks!
28 Tavong: Thanks for the info, the pics....a job well done. Thanks again! Gus SKBO
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