Passenger cabin comfort standards are being driven to new heights by carriers from India and the Middle East and, at Farnborough, two of the style leaders are showing just what is on offer.
India’s Kingfisher will begin international operations in the next few weeks and already claims to have changed the whole experience of flying, while the country’s legacy carrier, Air India, has revamped its cabins to new levels of passenger comfort .
Kingfisher, which claims to be India’s first and only five-star airline, has unveiled its new A330-200 showing the latest technology in both its first class and its revamped Kingfisher class.
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Naturally, first class passengers can enjoy a bottle of Kingfisher beer at its new fully-fledged bar, which comes complete with a bartender and a break-out seating area fitted with two couches and bar stools. The Kingfisher first cabin also features an in-seat massager on every seat.
“This little luxury helps our first cabin passengers feel relaxed during the flight as well as helping their blood circulate,” says brand activation manager Jai Prakash.
Other new features on the aircraft include mood lighting, touch-screen controls, in-seat chargers and USB connectors for every seat, plus there is an onboard chef and a service for jacket ironing.
Air India, is demonstrating how it is introducing the latest cabin design on its Boeing 777-300ER.
“Technologically-wise this is the most advanced aircraft in the world today and is equipped to offer passengers a new level of unprecedented comfort,” says executivedirector Jitender Bhargava.
The first class cabin has four seats with 1-2-1 abreast seating, allowing the passenger privacy, luxury and comfort, as well as lots of space. “The ergonomically designed fully-flat bed seat has an inbuilt lumbar support and massage system and allows for a ‘buddy seat’ where passengers can invite people to dine with them on the large folding table,” says Bhargava.
The aircraft first class is pure luxury with even the cutlery being gold plated. Stowage compartments for spectacles, shoes mobile phones and magazines are also featured.
Executive class is almost as comfortable with 35 seats in 2-3-2 configurations with the ability to transform in to flatbeds.
“Economy passengers will be impressed with the amount of space in their seat, which can recline six inches,” says Bhargava. “And they also have the added luxury of a therapeutic footrest, which is installed to get their circulation flowing.
Other features include an advanced entertainment system with 250 hours of video programming and 150 hours of audio programming, wall mounted satellite phones, and mood lighting throughout the aircraft in relaxing shades of mauve, green and pink.
Source: Flight International
