Aviation

All Nippon Airways Launches Boeing’s New Insight Accelerator

All Nippon Airways (ANA) will be the launch customer for Insight Accelerator (IA), a new cloud-based digital solution employing artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency

SINGAPORE, Sept. 20, 2022 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced All Nippon Airways (ANA) will be the launch customer for Insight Accelerator (IA), a new cloud-based digital solution employing artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency and avoid high-impact service disruptions.

While the latest generation of commercial airplanes like the 787 generates a large amount of flight data, many operators lack the infrastructure to manage and leverage the information. IA uses out-of-the-box algorithms to sort and detect anomalies and create alerts to enable airlines to take proactive maintenance and repair action and prevent unscheduled delays.

“There are many products on the market for flight data analytics but Insight Accelerator is the most effective tool for our aircraft operation,” commented Manubu Tono, All Nippon Airways manager of Planning & Administration, Engineering. “It’s very innovative, and meets our primary goal of leveraging features in-flight data that indicate a system failure before it happens.”

Boeing developed the IA platform based on decades of experience supporting the global fleet and developing rigorous methods while assisting ‘Airplane-on-Ground’ situations.

“IA’s built-in artificial intelligence, guided exploration and powerful visualizations allow airlines to investigate flight and maintenance data, identify trends and discover insights – all without specialized coding or programming skills,” said Duane Wehking, vice president of Digital Aviation Solutions at Boeing Global Services. “This is an easy-to-use solution that will provide value to airlines from day one.”

Based in Tokyo, ANA was the global launch operator of the 787 Dreamliner and is a launch customer for the 777X family. The carrier became the first airline in Japan to order the 737 MAX with firm orders for 20 737-8s, and currently operates more than 170 Boeing jets. ANA operates the world’s largest 787 fleet with 77 Dreamliners including all three sub-models.

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.