Aviation

Virgin Atlantic’s new planes to have Love Suite & Solo Suite

10 Interesting things you didn't know about Virgin Airline.

Virgin Atlantic announced on Monday that the new Airbus A330-200s joining their fleet will feature three distinct suites in the upper class cabin.

Travelers flying on these planes — with names inspired by the aircraft’s registration and the airline’s signature sense of humor, such as Strawberry Fields, Honky Tonk Woman, Scarlett O’Hara, and Daydream Believer — will be able to choose from the carrier’s new Love Suite, Solo Freedom Suite, and Solo Corner Suite.

“The Upper Class cabin introduces three new styles of seating … as well as extra touches such as a barista-style coffee menu and free Wi-Fi messaging,” Phil Maher, the airline’s executive vice president of operations, said in a statement.

All 19 of the upper class seats transform into lie-flat beds and offer direct aisle access. Passengers in this class will also receive a chic amenity kit with Happy Socks.

The Freedom and Corner Suites are best suited for solo travelers, and the latter is extra private and offers a particularly good view. (There are only three available on each plane.)

The Love Suite, on the other hand, is designed with couples or groups in mind. These seats are located in the center of the upper class cabin, and are perfect for dining or watching movies with your travel partner. There are three Love Suites per plane, accommodating six passengers total.

Virgin Atlantic’s new A330s will take to the skies in March, and will initially service flights from Manchester, England to New York City, Boston, San Francisco, and Barbados.

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.

British Airways Unveils Its Brand-New First Class Cabin for the Airbus A380

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.

Etihad Airways Unveils 10 Exciting New Routes for 2025

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.