Airbus A321XLR maiden flight and new Safran seats point to long-haul narrowbody future
The option for long haul…
Room with a VUE. The new products by Safran Seats designed for comfort a new class of long haul single aisle aircraft. (Image: Safran Seats)
The option for long haul narrowbody flights moves another bit closer this week with Airbus giving a maiden flight to its A321XLR aircraft, writes Alan Peaford.
It flew from the Hamburg plant on Wednesday having undergone pre-flight simulation and ground checks. When entering the market in 2024 it will offer a range of 4,700nm and capacity for up to 244 passengers, giving options to airlines for more cost effective and sustainable long-haul flights.
To achieve market success, premium passengers will expect to match comfort levels found in the widebody cabins. And just a few miles down the road from the Airbus Finkenwerder plant the Aircraft Interiors Exhibition (AIX) was witnessing cabin equipment manufacturers and designers offering solutions to match those needs.
New business class seat
Safran Seats unveiled a new business class seat called VUE that will provide the comfort in the single aisle cabins.
Safran already has two launch single-aisle customers for the seats and will be installed on an Airbus A320 family aircraft and a Boeing 737 next year.
According to Safran Seats, the name VUE stems from the window-facing experience it delivers, giving each passenger a much more enjoyable view.
Optimised density
“All passengers benefit from this experience due to the layout of the cabin, with reverse herringbone seats. This layout offers an optimised density while giving passengers a long bed with plenty of foot space. All travellers have direct aisle access with an easy exit even with the TV or meal table deployed. The privacy is excellent, with no direct eye contact,” the company said.
There is also the possibility of adding a door to the suite.
Safran Seats have also introduced a new business class seat for wide-body aircraft such as the A350 or Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft.
Acoustic comfort
The Unity seats form part of an individual or twin suite giving privacy as well as a foundation for the latest technologies developed by Safran Seats including Euphony, a wireless system dedicated to acoustic comfort.
Launching the new products, Safran Seats president Vincent Mascre said they show how the company continued to innovate even through depths of the Covid crisis.
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