Aviation

200 lucky passengers aboard a plane in Spain got a free Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 seems to have done a great job at erasing the Galaxy Note 7 debacle. Following a string of complaints from all over the world regarding the Galaxy Note 7 catching fire, Samsung had made amends by thoroughly investigating the matter. After announcing several safety measures, Samsung had decided to launch a few flagship devices: Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and the Galaxy Note 8. According to several reports, the company was able to sell a decent number of phones in the S8 series and there is already a huge anticipation regarding the Note 8. In fact, Samsung recently announced that the pre-order for the Galaxy Note 8 is the fastest for any Note device ever.

In a first of its kind promotion, Samsung found out a unique way to define its success. Samsung handed out the Galaxy Note 8 smartphone to 200 lucky passengers in a flight in Spain. On an A Coruna bound plane from Madrid, the company distributed the device for free along with the text: “(translated) A year ago we asked you to turn it off, we welcome you today on board”, CNET reported. In this ad, Samsung clearly reminds the users of the time when the Galaxy Note 7 was banned in flights in several countries. While the text is a close translation from Spanish, the message seems to be a tongue in cheek reminder of a mistake the company wants the users to forget.

https://youtu.be/9FAmSCUq5zw

As far as the passengers on the plane are concerned, most of them seemed to be amused and happy to receive the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 for free. It is not every day that you are lucky enough to get a $1,000 as a gift. This is a great move by the company as it wants buyers to be less wary of the Note 7, which was considered dangerous to be carried on planes.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.