Air France revealed its brand new A350 cabins that will enter the fleet later just next month. The seating arrangement is similar to that of the 777, with a few passenger enhancements.
One notable addition is the new seat interface tablet located next to the vanity unit. While the existing A350s will not undergo retrofitting, the next 20 aircraft will feature this updated interior configuration, which includes 48 Business seats, 32 seats in Premium Economy, and 212 seats in Economy.
This new seating design will also create a more cohesive experience with the 12 newly introduced 777s that share the same interior layout.
Developed exclusively for Air France, this innovative product is a result of collaboration between STELIA Aerospace, Airbus Atlantic’s commercial brand, Mark Collins from Design Investment, and SGK Brandimage, a design and branding consultancy.
The cabin’s large windows are equipped with automatic window blinds, allowing passengers to adjust the intensity of the lighting during the trip.
Air France has carefully selected wool, brushed aluminum, and full-grain French leather as the distinguished, soft, and natural materials for crafting its seats. The padding of the seat has been meticulously designed to provide additional softness, ensuring an elevated level of comfort for passengers. To add a touch of distinction, each seat is adorned with the trademark red accent of the company, beautifully embroidered to reflect Air France’s iconic branding.
The personal storage unit in the seat design has a slight difference compared to the flush integration seen in the 777. Unfortunately, this slight protrusion takes away some of the previous elegance from the overall design. Nevertheless, it continues to provide convenient storage space for passengers’ personal belongings, including a noise-reducing headset, a vanity mirror, and other essentials. Additionally, a second storage area has been incorporated at the foot of the seat, offering sufficient room for a small travel accessory.
Continuously striving to provide the highest standards in the industry, Air France has incorporated state-of-the-art technology into its latest Business seat. Each seat is equipped with a spacious 20-inch 4K Ultra High-Definition anti-glare screen, currently the largest among Air France’s long-haul fleet. Passengers can enjoy their entertainment using their personal headphones thanks to the Bluetooth connection. The seat also features a new touchpad screen that allows passengers to effortlessly browse through various programs and easily control their environment, from adjusting seat positions to managing light intensity. The screen includes a “do not disturb” feature, indicating to the crew that the passenger wishes to rest.
As for First Class, details about the upcoming product are scarce, but a new offering is expected to be unveiled in the coming months. Air France’s focus isn’t limited to the front of the cabin, as the Premium Economy cabin has also received attention. The 32 seats in this cabin, designed in collaboration with Collins Aerospace, feature a brand-new recliner seat model already available on the Airbus A350 and the refurbished Boeing 777-300 ER. These seats provide 94 cm of legroom and a wide 48 cm seat pan. The seat back reclines to 121 degrees and has been widened to enhance privacy and comfort. The redesigned seat cushions extend up to shoulder level, offering a softer sensation. They are upholstered in navy-blue herringbone fabric with a refined finish. The 4-position headrest can be adjusted to suit individual preferences. The package is completed with a noise-reducing audio headset, ample storage space, an individual reading light, and USB A and C ports.
Both the Business and Premium Economy cabins feature a wide 13.3-inch 4K Ultra High-Definition anti-glare screen with Bluetooth connection, allowing passengers to enjoy on-demand entertainment using their personal headphones. A new feature enables customers to connect their personal devices directly to the in-seat screen, serving as a remote control or to browse available programs alongside the content displayed on the main screen.
In Economy, each Safran seat offers an 18-inch wide seat pan, a recline of 119 degrees, and 31 inches of legroom. The ergonomically designed backrest provides reinforced lateral support through cushions. The seat introduces two new features: a smartphone or tablet holder integrated into the backrest and a USB C port in addition to the existing USB A port.
