At the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023 in Hamburg, Air France has unveiled a preview of its latest Business chair. Featuring the highest standards of comfort and technology in the industry, the new seat has a sliding door so you can make your own space.
It also converts into a perfectly flat bed of almost 2 metres. For greater closeness when travelling as a couple, the seats in the middle of the cabin have a central wall that can be lowered. And create a convivial space.
The perfect business chair?
The chair has been developed exclusively for Air France. It must to equip the Airbus A350s from July onwards. The programme will continue until 2025. In its new configuration, the Airbus A350 will have new cabins in all classes of travel: 48 Business seats, 32 Premium Economy seats and 212 Economy seats. At the same time, the company continues the refitting of its 12 Boeing 777-300ERs.
The 48 spacious armchairs take over the "3 Fs" concept : Full FlatThey come in real beds 53 cm wide and almost 2 metres long. Full Access indicates that each passenger has direct access to the aisle and Full Privacyfor added privacy. Wool, brushed aluminium, full-grain French leather: Air France has chosen noble, natural materials for this new-generation chair.
The front-row seats in the Business cabin have extra space for greater comfort. For the first time, an individual wardrobe with a high mirror and additional storage space are also available on each armchair in this first row.
On the storage side, there is a separate box for noise-reducing headphones, a small mirror and travellers' personal belongings. A second storage area has been added at the foot of the seat for a small travel accessory.
All in all, Air France has ordered 41 Airbus A350-900. Having already received 20 aircraft, the 21st A350 will inaugurate this new cabin configuration. Named "Aix-en-Provence", it will make its first commercial flight in July 2023.
The best in on-board technology
Air France has also selected the very best technology to equip the new-generation Business chair. Each seat has a large 20-inch 4K Ultra High Definition anti-glare screen - the largest in theAir France in Business. Passengers will enjoy over 1,500 hours of entertainment. Equipped with a Bluetooth connection, the screen makes it easy to use personal headphones.
A new touch-sensitive tablet also makes it possible to navigate through the different programmes and simply control the entire environment, from the position of the seat to the lighting intensity of the space. A "do not disturb" function is also available on this screen, informing the crew that the customer wishes to rest.
Ultra-connected, the seat incorporates USB A and C ports and an induction charger. A Wi-Fi connection is also available during the flight. Finally, a new feature has been integrated. Customers can now connect their personal device directly to the screen to use it as a remote control. They will also be able to navigate through the programmes on offer or view the interactive map alongside the content broadcast on the main screen.
High levels of comfort in Premium Economy and Economy
The Premium Economy cabin has 32 seats. Air France is offering a brand new recliner" model (reclining seat), in line with those offered on its first Airbus A350s and on the 12 Boeing 777-300 ERs currently being refitted. Once seated, passengers benefit from 94 cm of legroom and a seat width of 48 cm. The backrest reclines up to 121 degrees and has been further widened to offer greater privacy and comfort. The seat foams have been reworked and now rise up to the shoulders to improve the feeling of softness.
The headrest can be adjusted to 4 positions to suit everyone. Noise-reducing headphones, plenty of storage space, an individual reading light and USB A and C ports complete the package.
The Economy cabin offers 212 seats developed with Safran Seats. Each has a wide 46 cm seat, a 119 degree recline and 79 cm of legroom. The seat back is ergonomically designed with new foams for greater comfort and enhanced lateral support.
There are two new features: on the back of the large tablet, there is now a holder for your smartphone or personal tablet. A USB C port is also available in addition to the USB A port. Both cabins also feature large 13.3-inch 4K Ultra High Definition anti-glare screens. equipped with a Bluetooth connection. This means that customers can enjoy on-demand entertainment programmes with their own headphones. Air France also offers Economy Class passengers the option of connecting a personal device to the in-flight screen.
In all cabins, customers have access toAir France Connect, the company's connectivity offer. The service offers three passes, one of which is completely free, making it easy to send and receive messages and obtain all the information you need about your flight and connections.
