Safran’s Interspace retrofits aim to deliver more isolation on board

Privacy and isolation on board are, perhaps, more valuable than ever. With that in mind multiple vendors are developing new solutions to separate passengers in adjacent seats. Safran Seats partnered with Universal Movement to develop concepts that can retrofit to existing economy class and premium cabin structures, delivering a new style of passenger accommodation on board under an exclusive partnership.

Safran Seats is confident that this partnership with Universal Movement will generate value to our customers thanks to its recognized agility and innovative spirit. Interspace is a great innovation for privacy of passengers, even more so in the post-Covid-19 travel environment that’s ahead of us.

– Quentin Munier, Safran Seats EVP Strategy Innovation

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Blocking seats with Interspace Lite

Many passengers are expecting or demanding a blocked middle seat as part of their return to travel, hoping that the “social distancing” adds a smidgen of increased safety and protection on board. Despite the industry’s insistence that the blocked seats are not here to stay, options for delivering an upgraded version of that design are coming from many vendors. The Interspace Lite option from Safran, designed in partnership with Universal Movement, delivers privacy and separation in a flexible and adjustable setup.

The system can be moved to the aisle seat for a couple traveling together or stay in the middle to split a pair of passengers. It adds the dividers as well as a service console, with a cup holder and other storage options.

While it it unlikely that airlines will invest in this sort of design in the immediate near-term – they have little cash to spare these days – the concept could carry over to the future of a flexible premium cabin for single-aisle aircraft. The “EuroBiz” concept that can be easily adjusted and implemented for passengers could deliver a win for airlines while maintaining the flexibility of cabin size and relatively limited capital costs.

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Interspace “wings” for the premium cabin

The Interspace product installs on Premium Economy (or domestic first class) seats, adding fold-out, padded wings to the seat structure. The retrofittable solution gives passengers a cushioned surface to lean against, for greater support in the seat, while also adding a smidgen of privacy between seat pairs. This solution will face lower certification challenges and is more likely to see installation on an aircraft.

Safran Seats and Universal Movement now have an exclusive development and manufacturing partnership to bring the Interspace products to market. The companies expect to offer them to airlines as early as Summer 2020.

“Travel Safe” adds more to the portfolio

Safran Seats also announced its Travel Safe line, built around three primary goals:

• Social distancing without loss of density;
• Touchless interactions; and,
• Virus free surfaces.

These include the Ringfence removable partition between seats and pedal actuation of seat recline, removing the need to press the button with one’s hands. Anti-microbial seat and tray table coatings are also part of the program.