This week’s episode is all about the middle seat. Should it be blocked? How would airlines approach that task? And one briefly tried to charge passengers for that luxury, though quickly backed down when politicians got angry.
seats
Introducing yin-yang seating for economy class
Just how much will passenger expectations shift in the post-COVID19 world? No one really knows yet, but at least one aircraft seating manufacturer is ready with some creative ideas for helping ensure passenger isolation, even without reducing seating density. Welcome to the “Janus” seat from Aviointeriors, a yin-yang option for economy class.
Airlines press back on accessible lavatory plans
Airlines are not keen to update the on-board lavatory experience to support passengers with reduced mobility, citing costs and limited options as part of the objections.
What we learned about Breeze in this week’s DOT filing
Breeze Airways is ready to take flight. Or at least it is very close. The new carrier hopes to launch service later this year. And we now know (a tiny bit) more about what the service will – and will not – be.
Simplicity speeds LATAM’s premium economy deployment fleet-wide
Bringing a new class of service online is a major effort for any airline. LATAM Airlines’ new premium economy deployment is staggered, but rolling it out across the entire operation less than half a year after the decision was made is mighty impressive. Keeping the options simple overall helped the airline to reach this goal.
American Airlines adds 20 Embraer E175s with SkyWest
Chalk up another 20 E175s for the American Eagle fleet. These planes will be operated by SkyWest and join the fleet over the coming year-ish.
Delta Air Lines plans new first class seats for A321neo fleet
Some Delta Air Lines passengers will soon spot a new first class seat on board. As the A321neo joins the fleet starting later in 2020 the carrier will introduce a brand new design for the premium cabin on board, with better privacy, more space and other benefits.
Air Canada launches A220 flights
Air Canada inaugurated service on its new A220-300 today, the latest carrier to bring the type to passengers.
China Eastern takes an interesting angle for new premium seating
Putting flat bed seats in single-aisle aircraft is hardly a new phenomenon. As the planes fly farther and passengers appear willing to pay for increased comfort that trend will likely continue, with seat manufacturers continuing to innovate in the space. Or, perhaps, taking a step backwards from time to time.
Qatar Airways takes delivery of new 787-9 Dreamliners in the most ridiculous way possible
The aviation industry is under a microscope when it comes to emissions and fuel efficiency. This weekend’s delivery of a bunch of Qatar Airways 787s is most definitely not going to help the situation.