The war on who’s having lie-flat Business Class seats continues, and Continental Airlines hasn’t been left behind.
The airline’s BusinessFirst product – 180-degree lie-flat seats which took two years to perfect – will be installed on its Boeing B787, B777 and B757 aircraft. But passengers will have to wait until the autumn of 2009 when installation begins, first on Continental’s B777 aircraft that primarily serve trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes, which include destinations like London, Paris, Hongkong, Beijing and recently Shanghai. Following this, the new seats will be outfitted on Continental’s B757-200 fleet beginning 2010 and on its B787 fleet as the aircraft are delivered.
These seats will provide 2m of sleeping space in the fully extended position on the wide-body aircraft. Each of them measures up to 25 inches when the adjustable armrest is positioned flush with the seat cushion, allowing passengers their well-deserved snooze. Electronic one-touch controls take the hassle off setting the seats to pre-set upright, cradle and fully extended sleep positions, as are additional controls for adjusting the seat back, lumbar support and leg and foot rests to one’s most comfortable position. Other features include a privacy shell, laptop power, headset and USB plugs, additional storage space, iPod and iPhone connectivity, and a six-way adjustable headrest among others.
When asked if the seat count would be traded in to make space for the new product, Walter B Dias, staff vice-president, sales and marketing, Continental Airlines said: “We want to create the best seats possible and we do not want to lose any seats.” For more information, visit www.continental.com
