Virgin Australia has launched its new fully-flat business class seat on its A330 aircraft serving the carrier's Sydney-Perth route.
The new seat has a length of 80 inches and width of 28 inches when in the bed position, which the airline says makes it "the world's longest and widest fully lie-flat bed in domestic business class".
The new product will be rolled out across Virgin Australia's A330 fleet by the end of October, before being extended to B777 aircraft serving Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi.
Among the features of the new seat are:
- A reverse herringbone layout in a 1-2-1 configuration, with direct aisle access for every passenger
- A "customised triple-layer seat cushion supported by a hammock sub-frame and a turndown service with memory foam mattress toppers and high-grade cotton pillows and duvet"
- A tablet holder and "dedicated side console that expands your workspace with high power USB and universal power socket"
- Retractable privacy screen dividing centre seats
- 16-inch TV screen
Business class passengers will also be offered a restaurant-style on-demand dining service, as well as "the finest quality coffee" from the first Nespresso by B/E Aerospace machine on any airline worldwide.
The carrier will serve a choice of cappuccino, espresso, macchiato, Long Black and Ristretto, and says that "as part of the development, the machine was tested in an altitude chamber and at high elevations similar to the cabin altitude to confirm the coffee it produced was consistent with the quality achieved on the ground".
Earlier this year, Virgin Australia unveiled the new premium economy seating which is to be fitted across the carrier's B777 fleet (see news, June 23).
Mark Caswell