Pressing the refresh button: How airlines are reinvesting into cabin interiors

Cabin restorations are back following the stagnation caused by the pandemic, and airlines are once again investing in the in-flight experience with optimism as the industry’s competitive landscape returns. Keith Mwanalushi reports.

 This article,”Pressing the refresh button” was published in the March/April 2024 issue of Inflight. To read more articles like this, apply for your complimentary subscription today.

Aviation industry forecasters suggest the global aircraft interior refurbishment market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.3 per cent from 2023 to 2030, signalling a resurgence in cabin upgrades largely driven by renewed investment by airlines and rising demand for VIP refurbishments.

Air India has made the most dramatic move recently after it revealed a bold new corporate identity that includes spending US$400 million on refurbishing the interiors of its legacy fleet of 43 widebody aircraft. The project will reportedly start in the middle of 2024.

The New-Delhi based carrier has been tight-lipped on the intricate details of the refitted interiors, but the arrival of the first of its 20 brand-new A350-900s is perhaps indicative of things to come inside the cabin.

In February, RECARO Aircraft Seating announced that it would supply Air India with 22,000 economy and premium economy seats for both line-fit and retrofit programmes for the next five to six years.

According to RECARO, the first phase of this collaboration involves the retrofitting of 40 B787 and B777 aircraft with CL3710 and PL3530 seats, starting this year. Twelve A350 and B787 line-fit aircraft entering service in 2025 will maintain the same seat configuration.

What’s next – Airline and supplier partnerships for enhanced cabin design

RECARO is also involved in the creative thinking behind Iberia’s A350 Next seat upgrade.

The company’s Chief Executive, Dr Mark Hiller, tells Inflight how airline business models and passenger habits are influencing the creative process.

He says privacy and a combination of business and leisure travel are two major trends, and these are at the forefront when developing solutions for operators.

“For example, our CL6720 business class seat flying on Iberia features a door and large electronically powered privacy divider in the centre seats to maximise privacy.”

Dr Hiller believes the feeling of comfort should also extend from the seat into the cabin.

“This is important to the passenger journey,” he says. “Which is why we developed a new seat feature for the CL6720 – the illuminated seat row numbering. This is a light projection of the seat row number on the floor, displayed next or below your seat.”

In terms of airline business model changes, Hiller says a higher cabin density is required to accommodate a higher passenger count.

He believes this is a unique feature of the CL6720 product, since it can be pitched down to 40.5 inches and up to 45 inches, resulting in an optimal bed length even in a high-density business class cabin.

Another trend Hiller cites is the total cost of ownership.

“It’s not only the economy class striving for efficiency but also business class,” he says.

“And with only 85 kg per passenger in its basic version, we think the CL6720 is the lightest business class seat on the market.”

Meanwhile, it appears that UK start-up Global Airlines is one step closer to getting airborne following the acquisition of a former China Southern A380 (MSN 120).

In February, Global said the return to service work had been completed in the US, including the removal of all protective devices and the refreshing of all the fluids on the aircraft (hydraulics, oil, fuel and water).

Last November, JETMS Completions announced it had been selected by Global Airlines to carry out the refurbishment and overhaul the cabins of Global’s A380s – in total, it plans to purchase four.

The CL6720 business class seat with sliding doors takes flight on Iberia’s A350. Image: RECARO

In a status update provided to Inflight, JETMS says practically every part of the cabin will see new finishes, along with some new furniture, and work will be carried out in close collaboration with the airline’s founder James Asquith and the conceptual design house, FactoryDesign.

All seating will be re-styled and re-trimmed, along with new finishes on all cabin furniture, new carpets, curtains, and some yet-to-be-announced special features.

According to JETMS, the new interiors will be both stylish and sustainable wherever possible, using the latest advances in materials.

JETMS has worked closely with FactoryDesign before, including on the British Royal Air Force A330 interior project.

“We see that travellers today are more sustainably minded than ever before, and they often expect a balance between a customised passenger experience and environmental initiatives.”

Dr Mark Hiller, Chief Executive, RECARO

Maintaining consistency – Providing consistency in comfort for long-haul and short-haul cabins

Finnair is rolling out a new short-haul cabin, starting with the E190 aircraft – with modifications scheduled for the autumn of 2024.

All seating on Global Airlines’ A380s will reportedly be re-styled and re-trimmed, along with new finishes. Image: JETMS Completions

Eerika Enne, Head of Inflight Customer Experience at Finnair, says the vision was to create a holistic experience for passengers and improve the overall travel comfort when flying on the regional E190 fleet.

“The refresh draws inspiration from the recently renewed Airbus widebody fleet, and the aim is to create a similar atmosphere with a fresh and inviting look and feel, whilst taking into consideration that the scope of the project and the aircraft type is different.”

Certainly, providing consistent service levels between regional and long-haul products can be somewhat of a conundrum for airlines, especially when operating different aircraft types on the same route – and predominantly if flying wide and narrowbodies on the same regional routes.

For Finnair’s E190 cabin upgrade, the airline is mostly inspired by the feel of its A330 and A350 fleet in terms of the design language and overall atmosphere.

Enne explains that while the new widebody business class remains unique, a consistent experience does not necessarily mean it should be identical.

“It can also mean utilising the same design language or the use of the same or similar materials and colours and keeping in mind the network that the fleet operates.”

She adds that the design ethos is rooted in Nordic heritage, focusing on simplistic and functional design.

Balancing act – Improving onboard in-flight connectivity and sustainable materials

These days, passengers are looking for greater connectivity and touchpoints in the cabin, meaning airlines will need to make considerations for more sustainable practices within any refurbishment programme.

Eeva Mattila, an Engineer with Finnair Technical Operations, says the sustainability element is also factored into the E190 retrofit programme.

“This means considering the materials used, maintainability and weight, for example. Sustainability is a key driver for all seat suppliers when developing new seats and we are working closely with our partners to find suitable sustainable solutions for our customers.”

Premium Economy Class on Finnair’s A350. Image: Finnair

Additionally, Dr Mark Hiller at RECARO notes that energy waste can now be monitored by sensors.

“New technologies such as AI or sensors could help to change this level of awareness,” he says. “However, it will take time to be implemented across the entire industry.”

Moreover, IFE power suppliers and lifecycle assessments of each of RECARO’s products help in identifying ways to make power consumption at each seat more sustainable, according to Hiller, leading to reduced energy consumption.

“We see that travellers today are more sustainably minded than ever before, and they often expect a balance between a customised passenger experience and environmental initiatives,” he says.

Airlines are also juggling with industry supply chain problems across the board causing delays and uncertainties in the time frame needed to complete the retrofit programmes.

Mattila tells Inflight that Finnair is working closely with all of its key suppliers and partners on the E190 project to mitigate any challenges.

“Most if not all supply chains have been disrupted in the past few years, so preparation for possible supply disruption is a standard part of our plans,” she says.

“In the current environment, unexpected challenges cannot be ruled out, but we are planning and targeting a smooth process.”

Airlines well understand the value of engagement with their customers, and for many travellers in-flight entertainment system refurbs are essential to enhance the passenger experience.

Modular solution – Future-proofing in-flight entertainment (IFE) solutions

At Panasonic Avionics, one of the central design tenets of its new IFE solution, Astrova, is its ease of upgradeability.

Andy Masson, Vice President for Product and Portfolio Management and Marketing, says Astrova’s modular design firstly allows airlines to continuously update their cabin equipment with the latest technology.

“In the past, airlines would need to select their cabin equipment one or two years in advance of first aircraft delivery, and then have aircraft delivered over a five year or longer time frame.

“The problem with this approach is that consumer technology is continuously evolving and after five years or more, airlines IFE systems begin to look and feel dated.”

With Astrova, however, Masson feels airlines can continuously upgrade their systems as new technology becomes available, ensuring their passengers can always enjoy the latest consumer technology and experience that they are accustomed to on the ground.

According to Panasonic Avionics, Astrova’s modular architecture makes system upgrades and even retrofit programmes easier and more cost-effective.

Masson says that previously airlines would have to upgrade their entire cabin at once, which involved expensive engineering, certification and downtime.

Astrova’s modular architecture makes it easily upgradeable. Image: Panasonic Avionics

However, with Astrova, only the IFE components need to be upgraded, without any major impact on the seats or costly certifications.

As such, this allows airlines to improve their passengers’ experience quickly and easily, without major disruptions, according to Masson.

New technologies can also create new opportunities that might not have been originally associated with that technology, such as technology changes on the ground.

The VP highlights the ease of upgradeability that has been designed into the system.

For example, if there are advances in Bluetooth or USB technology, airlines can simply swap out the patented peripheral bar to provide an upgraded experience.

“If you need to improve the processing power of Astrova, you swap out a card right at the seat box,” says Masson. “This saves airlines from having to remove and re-certify the entire IFE system, reducing their costs and downtime.”

Perhaps it also supports airline sustainability efforts by reducing the need to recycle materials and maximising the lifespan of the system.

“Additionally, the significantly lighter weight of Astrova compared to previous IFE systems helps airlines reduce fuel consumption,” Masson adds.

Last June, Panasonic Avionics conducted an analysis of airlines that have IFE on single-aisle aircraft and found that in the top 25 airlines – in terms of revenue per available seat kilometre – most had already embraced embedded IFE across their fleet.

“Our job is to help airlines integrate in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity into their digital marketing strategy by creating a digital third channel,” says Masson.

“This objective can be achieved by choosing the right IFE system, coupled with global, high-speed connectivity, digital solutions and global aftercare support.”

Panasonic Avionics is certain the response to Astrova from its customers has exceeded expectations, with Masson reporting that Astrova has an adoption rate three times higher than any of the company’s previous systems.

“This is why we are excited about our new solution,” he says. “The response from the airline industry has been extremely positive.”