Air France unveils “lightest and most comfortable short-haul seat in the world”
Published: 19/01/2010 - Filed under: News »
Air France is to install a new seat on its short-haul Airbus aircraft, featuring increased legroom and a 15 degree recline. But don’t expect to see the seat on flights to the UK, as the offering will only feature on the carrier’s domestic network.
The new seat – designed jointly by Air France and Recaro – will be gradually introduced on Air France’s A319, A320 and A321 domestic aircraft beginning on January 30. The carrier is billing the offering as “the lightest and most comfortable short-haul seat in the world”, featuring two to three inches extra legroom and a streamlined foam seat.
The mechanical recline functionality has been removed, with the seatback set premamently at a recline of 15 degrees. The seats are also 40 per cent lighter than those they will replace, which Air France says will represent a reduction of 5,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
A total of 6,000 seats across 37 aircraft are due to be replaced, and the streamlined design will also allow Air France to increase capacity on its A320 and A321, with an extra row of six seats being added.
The carrier also serves London and Manchester with A319 aircraft, but this new seating is currently only destined for Air France’s domestic fleet, which accounts for 17 per cent of the airline’s revenue, with 11 million passengers carried each year.
For more informaton visit airfrance.co.uk.
Report by Mark Caswell
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