Economy Class Aircraft Seating Market

Steps taken by Airlines for Aircraft Seating

The luxury aspect for the economy class is being amped by several airlines across the globe including prominent ones like Lufthansa. In 2020, the airlines initiated their high-quality food and beverage service for their economy class passengers. The facility was introduced for short and medium-haul flights. Dead & David was the dedicated partner for this facility. The company proudly advertises the legroom offered during short and long haul flights. As per Lufthansa, the long haul flights are fitted with wide seat cushions that measure up to 40 centimeters. They have an individually adjustable headrest on each seat to ensure the comfort of the passenger.

In 2022, the SWISS International Airline presented a key product as well as feature service for its new premium economy class. The passengers are to experience a new class of travel that is poised to supplement the airline’s existing Economy, Business, and First Class cabins. The new premium economy class is expected to be retrofitted onto SWISSs’ 12 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft starting the 4th quarter of the year 2022. This new premium economy class includes a new range of seats which is poised to increase the comfort and luxury offered to the passengers. It is noted that each, SWISS Boeing 777-300ER is expected to be equipped with ZIM’s 24 latest-generation Premium Economy Class seats. The seats provide more legroom as opposed to the ones presently employed in the airline’s economy class. The seat pitch is expected to extend from 78.7 centimeters (Present seat pitch for economy class) to 99 centimeters. It also features a great recliner and a fold-out leg rest.

Growing Market Competitiveness

Thai Airways is noted to have swapped its Boeing 747-400 for short-haul flights with Airbus A350-900. The 289-seat economy cabin for this aircraft is configured with an A350 standard 3-3-3 layout. Each seat had a pitch of roughly 32 inches and a width of 18 inches. The seating layout also contains a footrest. However, as per customer experience, it is noted that the footrest occupies a portion of the legroom thus decreasing comfort. Aircraft including B787 and B777are also a part of Thai Airways’ fleet. The seat integrated across Thai Airway’s A350 recline to an angle of 160-180 degrees thus providing ample comfort to the passenger. Alternatively, it is to be noted that Thai Airway’s latest fleet of B787 and B777 provides a complete recline of 180 degrees thus providing a flatbed.

Delta Airlines refurbished its Boeing 777 Atlanta Airline in June 2018. The seating upgrade for these remodels matched global competition standards with a pitch value of 38 inches in a 2-4-2 configuration. Each seat on the Delta 777 airline is pitched between 31-32 inches and is roughly 18.5 inches wide. All the seats are inclusive of AC power outlets. However, Delta has not upgraded its traditional Gogo Ku installation which is a connectivity system.

Growing Market Competitiveness

Thai Airways is noted to have swapped its Boeing 747-400 for short-haul flights with Airbus A350-900. The 289-seat economy cabin for this aircraft is configured with an A350 standard 3-3-3 layout. Each seat had a pitch of roughly 32 inches and a width of 18 inches. The seating layout also contains a footrest. However, as per customer experience, it is noted that the footrest occupies a portion of the legroom thus decreasing comfort. Aircraft including B787 and B777are also a part of Thai Airways’ fleet. The seat integrated across Thai Airway’s A350 recline to an angle of 160-180 degrees thus providing ample comfort to the passenger. Alternatively, it is to be noted that Thai Airway’s latest fleet of B787 and B777 provides a complete recline of 180 degrees thus providing a flatbed.

Delta Airlines refurbished its Boeing 777 Atlanta Airline in June 2018. The seating upgrade for these remodels matched global competition standards with a pitch value of 38 inches in a 2-4-2 configuration. Each seat on the Delta 777 airline is pitched between 31-32 inches and is roughly 18.5 inches wide. All the seats are inclusive of AC power outlets. However, Delta has not upgraded its traditional Gogo Ku installation which is a connectivity system.

Recent Launches and Developments with Aircraft Seating

In 2019, the company, Acro Aircraft Seating launched its Series 6LC Economy class seat at the Hamburg Aircraft Interiors Expo. It is predominantly aimed at low-cost carriers’ narrow-body fleets. The Series 6LC includes a pre-reclined fixed back that includes an upper literature pocket. Lightweight armrests as well as a sliding table. Options like additional seat cover, lower literature pocket, crew step, and USB A &C provisions are also to be provided to the end-users. The objective of this seating design is to reduce complexity and the number of moving parts for a given architecture. This seating when integrated with the Airbus A320 family configuration provides extra width to the middle seat via the integration of the Xtra Comfort feature. The provided seat width optimizes cabin operations by providing a wider aisle which in turn suggests faster loading as well as unloading of passengers.

Moreover, in the year 2017, Zodiac launched its new economy class seat for the 777X class aircraft. The aircraft seat is known as the Z400, it is lightweight and it provides improved living space. The design does not include an IFE system. According to sources, the company planned on addressing the grappling seat problem for premium seat production. The market restraints for premium seat production led to the delayed delivery of the United Airlines’ Polaris product. The production issue prompted American Airlines to follow another direction for its Boeing 787-9s.