Aviation

Air India Provides Eye Masks to Passengers in B777 planes: Here’s why

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Air India, now under the ownership of the Tata Group, has encountered technical complications with its leased Boeing 777-200 aircraft.

Specifically, the economy-class cabin lighting has persistently remained in bright mode. In response, the airline has devised a practical solution by distributing eye masks to passengers flying on these planes.

In a recent circular, Air India disclosed the issue with the cabin lighting system on the leased B777-200 LR aircraft, affecting the economy class cabin. Despite efforts, the lighting remained stuck on bright mode, posing a challenge for the crew to adjust it during flights.

“To overcome the issue of the crew being unable to switch the lights to dim/off and to avoid guest inconvenience, eye masks will be provided to the passengers,” stated the airline in its circular.

Air India, which has leased five B777-200 LR planes from Delta Airlines, has taken proactive measures to ensure passenger comfort and convenience amidst this technical setback. The decision to distribute eye masks reflects the airline’s commitment to addressing customer needs promptly and efficiently.

Recently Air India plans to begin service to Seattle, Los Angeles, and Dallas during the winter schedule of 2024–2025, according to the report from PTI. The plan of deployment entails assigning the Boeing 777 to flights to Los Angeles and Dallas, and using the A350 aircraft for services to Seattle. These flights, which last for more than sixteen hours, highlight Air India’s dedication to providing smooth travel anywhere in the world.

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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.