With larger airliners flying longer routes, accommodations that more truly live up to the to the term “first class” are in high demand, and EADS Sogerma (Hall 4 Stand E53) and Lufthansa Technik (Hall 4 Stand E54) plan to fill a niche in that market.
The agreement calls for EADS Sogerma to offer Lufthansa Technik’s “aerosleeper” concept for an optional premium class bed assembly as “an integrated superior variant” of its own super first-class seat–the Ultimate 17. The meld of the two products will be marketed as the Ultimate Sleeper.
In its aerosleeper, Lufthansa Technik’s Innovation business unit had found what it billed as a solution to the age-old problem of bumps and hollows that inhibited passenger comfort when the seat was reclined for sleeping. The aerosleeper solved the problem by incorporating, alongside the actual seat, a “genuine bed” that would be folded out over the fully reclined seat to create a flat sleeping surface.
“What’s unique about this product is that it offers passengers a twofold improvement in comfort in almost the same amount of space as before,” said Harald Merensky, Lufthansa Technik project manager and inventor of the aerosleeper. “They can sit comfortably on well-engineered seats, and lie comfortably on beds designed for the purpose.”
EADS Sogerma will be responsible for transferring the concept to production and plans to offer its customers the new model from mid-2009. Lufthansa Technik is supplying the technical expertise and will also continue further development of the concept.
“As a seat vendor,” said EADS v-p of sales and marketing Marc Gentil, “we need to be as close as possible to the airlines needs and expectations; working with Lufthansa Technik gives EADS Sogerma this advantage.”
EADS Sogerma Wins Oman Air Contract
EADS Sogerma is also celebrating the selection of its Class 180 business-class luxury seat by Oman Air as the Gulf carrier expands its long-haul services.
The Class 180 was actually developed a decade ago with Cathay Pacific and is still in service today on Airbus A330s, A340s, A380s and the Boeing 747 and 777, according to marketing and contracts manager Marie-Pascal Jouaville.
The Class 180 seats for Oman Air are customized to match the carrier’s interior colors in terms of trim and finish and are being manufactured in France. The first will be installed later this year in the new Oman Air fleet of Airbus A330-200/300s.
Oman Air’s business class will have 20 of the seats in a four-abreast, 1-2-1 layout. The seating arrangement will also include 17-inch LCD monitors.
“We believe that this business class seat perfectly exemplifies the combination of comfort, space, design and technology,” said Oman Air CEO Peter Hill.
