Qantas's new Business Class seat, Skybed, has won one of the world's oldest and best-known awards for industrial and graphic design.
The Good Design Award, from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, recognises the seat's innovative design.
"Skybed is nothing like the traditional airline seat," says John Borghetti, executive general manager, Qantas Airlines.
Cocoon
"It has a sleek, contemporary design and offers a range of innovative features that provide comfort, privacy and flexibility for customers."
Australian industrial designer Marc Newson designed the seat, which was developed by BE Aerospace in association with Qantas engineering.
When fully declined to 8?, the seat is almost 2m (6.5ft) long and 60cm wide. Among its many features are a fixed cocoon-style seat surround, cushioned lumbar support and a 26.4cm screen for in-flight entertainment. There's even a back massager for those particularly long flights.
Qantas's entire 747-400 fleet is being progressively fitted with the Skybed. It will also be installed on the airline's new A330-300 aircraft to be delivered later this year.
Source: Flight Daily News
