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Iberia unveils the new Lavish cabin interior for its A350

This new-generation aircraft, equipped with the latest technology and designed to fly with maximum efficiency, is built with the most sustainable materials on the market and in this new standard

  • Iberia is the first airline to take delivery of Airbus aircraft with this new standard, with a reduction in weight and low-speed operational improvements.
  • The new Iberia A350s incorporate a new Business class seat with doors to give greater privacy to each customer, the seat when in flatbed mode is five centimetres longer than the previous ones.
  • Premium Economy Class provides added privacy thanks to the improvement of the headrests in the seat.
  • And the seats in the new Economy cabin are one centimetre wider and incorporate new storage for personal items.
  • The new IFE NEXT in-flight entertainment system boasts the latest Panasonic technology, a more modern, interactive, and intuitive design, 4K resolution, larger screens in Premium Economy and Economy and Bluetooth pairing is available at every seat.
  • The A350 Next has six different lighting environments to adapt the light to each moment of the flight. The bathroom surfaces are made from antibacterial materials, with contactless taps to provide greater hygiene.

Iberia has once more been the first airline to receive an A350 that meets a new Airbus standard, specifically the 4, 2022 standard, which includes upgrades that boost operational effectiveness and passenger comfort with bigger cabins.

This new-generation aircraft, equipped with the latest technology and designed to fly with maximum efficiency, is built with the most sustainable materials on the market and in this new standard, the weight has also been reduced by one ton.

Specifically, the new Iberia A350 boasts new flap positions that allow the pilot to select the optimal configuration for each takeoff; and the retraction of the landing gear is faster, which allows the airplane to reach a configuration that presents less aerodynamic resistance faster.

In addition to this, the weight of the empty aircraft in the factory has been reduced through structural improvements and lighter equipment, which increases its efficiency and also contributes significantly to improving its performance at the  most demanding airports from an operational point of view, known colloquially as hot & high.

The incorporation of this new generation A350 aircraft means a new product and optimised travel experience for the passengers with a wider cabin, greater comfort and better features in all cabins -Economy, Economy Premium and Business.

Business Class

A new door provides a more private and exclusive personal space for each customer. All seats in this cabin have direct access to the aisle and in the central ones -known as honeymoon seats- there is an automatic divider. The seat, which has articulated leather headrests and more storage for personal items, converts to a fully flat bed, which is 5 cm longer than the current seat. The number of each seat is projected on the aisle floor, to make them easier to find in the dark.

Premium Economy

This class also now offers more privacy, thanks the addition of ‘wings’ to the headrest, which folds and adjusts on both sides for greater customer comfort, as a novelty, the seat includes a remote control for in-flight entertainment with a touchable navigation panel.

Economy Class

The cabin of the new Airbus A350 is wider at armrest level, which Iberia has taken advantage of (maintaining the number of seats per row) to increase the width per seat by one centimetre and improve the comfort for it’s customers. In addition, the headrests are articulated, folding, and adjustable on both sides, as in the Premium Economy cabin. Below the in-flight entertainment screen, the seats incorporate a stand to hold and charge personal electronic devices.

IFE Next on Bigger Screens

The other qualitative leap of these planes comes from a new generation in-flight entertainment system that Iberia developed in collaboration with Panasonic, known as IFE Next.

It incorporates a more modern, interactive, and intuitive design. Its platform uses the most advanced technological system in the industry, and the screens offer 4K resolution that protects users’ eyes and incorporate night lighting to avoid disturbing nearby customers.

Cosier Atmosphere

This new generation of A350 has six different lighting environments -wake up, meal, relax, sleep, boarding, take-off and landing-, which provide the appropriate ambient lighting for each moment of the trip in all cabins.

The bathrooms feature contactless taps and surfaces made with antibacterial materials that improve hygiene.

Take a virtual visit of the cabin here: https://iberia.3dseatmapvr.com/examples/a350next.html

Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

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This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

  1. Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
    • Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
    • A tiered compensation system is being considered:
      • $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
      • $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
      • $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
    • The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
  2. Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
    • Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
    • Rebooking options may include:
      • Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
      • Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
  3. Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
    • Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
    • Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.

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