Aviation

Airbus and Safran win Crystal Cabin Award with Lower Deck Pax Experience Modules

Airbus and Safran win Crystal Cabin Award with Lower Deck Pax Experience Modules

#Airbus #Safran_Cabin #CCA19 #AIX19

Aircraft Interiors Expo, Hamburg, 3 April 2019 – Airbus in cooperation with Safranhas won the 2019 Crystal Cabin Award in the category Cabin Concepts. The Lower Deck Pax Experience Modules consists in enabling extension of passenger’s space into the cargo hold.

Airbus and Safran have partnered to develop and market lower-deck modules with a variety of flexible passenger solutions in the cargo hold such as beds, stretching-, playground- or business areas. The modules, which would fit inside aircraft cargo compartments, offer new opportunities for additional services to passengers, improving their experience while enabling airlines to differentiate and add value for their commercial operations. The new passenger modules could be easily interchangeable with regular cargo containers if required, as aircraft cargo floors and cargo loading systems would not be affected – the passenger module would sit directly on it.

Sören Scholz, Airbus Senior Vice President Cabin & Cargo Programme, said: “We are delighted to have won the Crystal Cabin Award together with Safranfor the Lower Deck Pax Experience Modules. Innovation is our main driver for success and we are continuously striving to offer the latest innovative solutions to airlines and passengers worldwide. I congratulate the team on their great job and well-deserved success.”

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.