Airbus Interiors Services (AIS) has unveiled a new customizable premium cabin concept for the A380 and A350 called “Day & Night”. Made up of several suites, each one offers up to 4m² of private space and features two separate areas: a ‘day’ living zone, and a private quiet ‘night’ environment. The day living part comprises a premium seat, a dining and working table and a personal screen. An adjustable partition allows the enclosure to be shared with a partner. The night zone is noise-insulated and features a full-height enclosed suite with a comfortable 2m long real bed, individual storage and a personal IFE screen. Both ‘Day’ and ‘Night’ zones feature interactive passenger controls for lighting, sound and IFE. A full-size demonstrator mock-up of the suite was on display at AIS’s stand at the Expo. The company is also looking to expand the Day & Night offering to include other widebody aircraft such as the A330/A340 Family.

 

SWISS signs with Airbus for A340 cabin upgrades

SWISS has signed an agreement with Airbus, through “Services by Airbus”, to upgrade the cabins of its five A340s. This interior modernization will harmonize the airline’s three-seating class cabins across its long range fleet and ensure the latest standards in its in-service A340s. The retrofit embodiment is planned to be completed end 2018. The five A340s will be provided with a complete new cabin product, including new inflight entertainment (IFE) system and internet connectivity. After the refurbishment the A340s will seat 223 passengers: eight in First Class, 47 in Business and 168 in Economy.

Thai Airways International signs with Airbus for A330 cabin upgrades and connectivity

Thai Airways International (THAI) has signed an agreement with Airbus to upgrade the cabins of three of its A330s for use on mid/long range operations. This interior modernisation will install new business class and economy class seats as well as IFE systems to ensure the latest standards. In addition, the new Airbus “High Bandwidth Connectivity” architecture for “Ka-band GX” capability would also be installed on these aircraft. The retrofit embodiment is planned to be completed in 2018. Airbus’ Customer Services Upgrades division will perform the overall cabin reconfiguration design, certification and integration of the new business class seats, economy class seats, and IFE and connectivity systems as selected by THAI. In addition, Airbus will also manage the embodiment of the upgrade as a turnkey solution.

 

Airbus selects HAECO Cabin Solutions as supplier of Centerline Ceiling Stowage Compartment line-fit option for the A320 Family

Airbus announced at AIX that it has selected HAECO Cabin Solutions, a division of HAECO Americas, as its supplier for the Centerline Ceiling Stowage (CCS) compartment line-fit option for new A320 Family aircraft. The option will also be available as a retrofit for newer in-service A320 Family aircraft which have the ‘Enhanced Cabin’. HAECO Cabin Solutions’ CCS will be offered to Airbus customers through its catalogues for delivery in the first quarter of 2018. The CCS is designed to hold crew luggage, on-board wheelchairs, life rafts and other equipment. Today such ‘non-passenger’ items can take up valuable space in the normal passenger overhead bins. By instead moving those items into the dedicated CCS, all the side overhead bins become available for passenger luggage stowage. The CCS compartment is offered in two sizes, and is available in two positions on the A320 and three positions on the A321. The ceiling compartment will be compatible with fixed and pivoting bins, and will also be available as a retrofit option through an Airbus service bulletin modification.

Photo1                        Photo2                        Photo3

 

Airbus selects Gogo as new “High Bandwidth Connectivity” supplier

Airbus has selected Gogo as a new supplier for “High Bandwidth Connectivity” (HBC) line-fit and retrofit solutions, across all A320, A330 and A380 product families. The selection of Gogo, whose system uses the ‘Ku-Band’, is compatible with Airbus’ new HBC architecture and follows previous supplier selections of Zii, Thales, Rockwell Collins, and Panasonic. Airbus’ HBC development allows airline customers to choose between three satellite technologies (Ka-Band, SwiftBroadband/L-Band, and Ku-Band), now from five different Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) connectivity suppliers, independently from their choices of IFE supplier. The HBC on-board architecture is being successfully flight-tested on A330 since October last year with an entry-into-service to occur by the end of this year. Together with the ‘digital-native’ connected A350 XWB entry into service, Airbus not only opens-up new connectivity horizons for the passengers’ on-board experience on all its aircraft families, but also for the airlines who will benefit from the digital transformation of Airbus’ flight operations products and services.