Comfort at premium in new cabins
Aircraft cabin real estate is probably the most expensive in the world, so the airlines go through painstaking processes to get interiors right.
Qantas is introducing Boeing 787 Dreamliners later this year, and early next year will use the plane to fly on very longhaul routes. Every part of its cabin has been extensively reviewed, because of the length of time passengers will spend there. The airline’s Dreamliners will have a strong premium skew, with 42 business class seats, 28 brand new design premium economy seats and 166 economy seats.
The seats come from Thompson Aero Seating in Portadown, Northern Ireland, where the company enlists local residents to test trial seats by sleeping on them.
Airlines seats are built to suit 95 per cent of the flying population and they then aim to make sure those outside that percentile band are comfortable.
Qantas will use tri- weave fabric rather than leather on its Dreamliners, as it has found the fabric breathes better on longhaul flights. The finish on the aluminium and darker woodgrain laminate is all very deliberate.
It has to look good while conforming to strict safety regulations, and always battling against adding weight.
The seats, which will be arranged in a 1- 2- 1 configuration, are fitted with highpower USB chargers to meet the growing demand for rapid charging of the devices passengers are bringing on board.
Qantas is also designing a self- serve bar in the business cabin, and expect a move away from anything that has the industrial galley look.