Expliseat unveils new seat for Air France Embraer 190
Expliseat, the French manufacturer of the world’s lightest aircraft seat, is presenting its new model at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
Called TiSeat 2X, Air France is the launch…
Expliseat, the French manufacturer of the world’s lightest aircraft seat, is presenting its new model at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
Called TiSeat 2X, Air France is the launch airline. As part of the cabin renewal programme for the Embraer 190 fleet operated by its regional subsidiary HOP!, Air France has chosen the TiSeat 2X seat for its distinctive design aesthetics and functionalities, embedded in a lightweight and durable design.
Designed by Andrea Mocellin, an automotive and aeronautical designer, the TiSeat 2X seat offers a new passenger experience.
The TiSeat 2X incorporates everything that makes Expliseat products so exclusive: an ultra-light all-carbon and titanium structure, with recycled components and minimal plastic, 30% lighter than a traditional seat. Each seat is fitted with leather and ergonomic foam for added comfort.
On both sides of the seat, passengers benefit from functions within easy reach. When they arrive at their seat, the back of the front seat offers all the options designed to Air France’s standards.
An enlarged tray table, designed for work, in-flight catering, and entertainment, is compatible with all laptop formats. Three fully integrated upper literature transparent pockets on the underside of the tray can be used to store documents and magazines for easy reference.
A PED (personal electronic device) holder, equipped with USB A and C ports, provides a second tablet at eye level. This fusion of innovations, blending technology and ergonomics, stands as the centerpiece of the seat. When the seat is opened, two rings unfold to hold cups. A QR code provides flight information. A ribbed surface provides a stable place for your phone or tablet. Designed with no protruding angles, once closed the PED holder blends seamlessly into the backrest, creating a modern, homogeneous design.
Once seated, whether working or resting, passengers benefit from the ergonomics of the armrest, footrest, and invisible headrest mechanism. All are integrated into a seamless, one-piece shell. The appearance of the front side of the seat, the comfort of the cushioning, and the premium headrest features match the overall design of the seat.
To create the TiSeat 2X, Expliseat brought together a project team made up of specialists in seating ergonomics, its engineers, and Andrea Mocellin. A designer well-versed in the codes of the high-end, inspiring his collaborations with Ferrari, Pininfarina, and Expliseat’s common customer Lilium, he put himself in the shoes of the passenger who had just boarded, to define how to improve the user experience.
Long before designing the seat line, all possible usage scenarios were imagined: the optimum position for eating, drinking, relaxing, charging your phone, working, or hanging up your jacket. All of which had to combine elegance and functionality to meet Air France’s standards.
“With the TiSeat 2X and the confidence of Air France, Expliseat opens a new page in its history. Our approach to continuous innovation and the acceleration of our industrialization enable us to be ever more attentive to the expectations of our customers and their passengers, at a time when the demand for responsible and enjoyable travel is at its highest. The TiSeat 2X is the perfect combination of sustainability, comfort, functionality, and robustness. We wanted to promote interaction with the passenger in a way that no one had done before. It’s a unique human-centered design using the only lightweight technology available in the industry,” said Amaury Barberot, Chairman and CEO of Expliseat.
“This project to renovate the cabins of our Embraer 190 fleet is fully in line with Air France’s strategy to upgrade its offer of products and services on its short and medium-haul network. An investment of around 20 million euros will considerably improve the travel experience for our customers, who I am sure will appreciate the enhanced comfort and design of these brand new cabins. I wish to thank all the Expliseat and Air France teams for their outstanding cooperation in producing this comfortable, sturdy and lighter seat” said Fabien Pelous, SVP Customer Experience at Air France.
The first Air France flights equipped with the TiSeat 2X seat will begin in autumn 2024.
Subscribe to the FINN weekly newsletter
