Star Alliance selects B/E Aerospace to supply seats

[flying.monkeyz]

04-Oct-2011 Star Alliance has selected B/E Aerospace as its development partner for the Star Alliance long-haul economy seat programme. This joint procurement initiative is aimed at providing member airlines the opportunity to offer their economy class customers superior ergonomic comfort, modern design features and best-in-class technology.

To this effect, both a base and advance version of the seat are being developed. Air China, Austrian and Lufthansa will be the initial member carriers to place these seats on their long-haul fleets, with first deliveries scheduled to begin in 2012.Jeffrey Goh, Vice President Legal and Corporate Services, Star Alliance, said: “Star Alliance has again set an industry trend by becoming the first alliance to partner with an airline seat manufacturer to deliver product innovation to its member carriers. With this initiative we demonstrate that our member carriers can continue to offer differentiated products while at the same time working together to drive synergies, lower costs and enhance the passenger experience.”

The vendor selection process was coordinated by Star Alliance and included initial market research along with joint customer trials conducted in both China and Germany earlier in the year. The new seat will benefit member carriers, offering shortened delivery lead times, reduced development expenses and competitive pricing as well as the unique features that will make up the two versions of this seat.

http://www.centreforaviation.com/mem...ly-seats-59940

[scooby5]

So.... if the seat sucks for one, it sucks for them all. That's quite a risk to possibly alienate an entire batch of *A loyal fliers.

[flying.monkeyz]

Star Alliance unveils common economy class seat

Star Alliance has completed its development of a common long-haul economy class seat its member airlines can avail themselves of. The B/E Aerospace seat is approximately 30% lighter than existing seats, and 15,000 of them will be installed by the end of 2012 on long-haul aircraft from Air China, Austrian and Lufthansa, the three initial customer airlines. Installation will begin in the northern hemisphere's 2012 summer.

http://www.centreforaviation.com/blo...ass-seat-65430

[CarbonMan]

... seat is approximately 30% lighter than existing seats, ...

That's a lot of savings in weight. I wonder if airlines take into consideration the global trend of people getting more ... Err, wider.

[viraj735]

Will SQ be required to use these seats? 17" width and 31" inch pitch doesn't sound very pleasing?

[demue]

Well one can't judge much from the pics but the seat cushions look very firm. I also wonder if testing meant having people spend upwards of 8hrs in this seat and collecting the feedback.

Most tests I have heard of only had people sit in the seats for a few minutes and that is no measure. Reminds me of the LH NEK (Neue Europa Kabine - New European Cabin) seat design that was extensively tested with customers and according to most of us who have tried it (check LH forum on FT) is essentially ... well crap.