Does every business class seat need a door? It’s the hottest question in the airline passenger experience design world right now. Short answer: no. But it’s complicated. Fortunately, we at The Up Front *love* complicated.

Seats vs suites: are doors a must-have for every new business class?

Doors are almost a default on today’s seats in business — but should they be, and what are the other critical factors creating (or blocking) privacy in today’s most profitable airline cabins that can ...

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Okay, we’ll bite, Lufthansa, what’s inside your new economy class amenity kit? For the amount of plastic that’s going to be thrown away, we hope it’s really amazing!

Why is there a weird little 1960s-kitchen-style hatch between the galley and row 1? How is *that* linked to the flight attendant seat that hangs off the side of the back galley, itself brand new and much improved? And why are we, of all outlets, cross about a wheelchair sticker on a lavatory?

We need to talk about United’s new A321XLR, the new Elevate Altitude aisle-facing herringbones that it’s launching as its new standard narrowbody Polaris. Fortunately, we have 4200 words for you where we do just that.

Onboard United’s A321XLR: new Elevate Altitude seats, impressive engineering, and clear certification compromises

How 32” at 49° feels like more, why seat airbags are back, and the real reasons United is introducing a middle-seat-free Eurobusiness economy seat product

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The Farnborough Airshow flight line shouldn’t look like this on day 2 either. The order totals for the day shouldn’t be under 100 aircraft — the majority little Embraers. This is Thursday levels of busy, on the Tuesday. Genuinely, we’re concerned about the future of the summer European airshows.

The Farnborough Airshow shouldn’t look like this. We shouldn’t be able to capture the entire range of commercial aircraft on show without a wide-angle lens. An A321XLR. An A350-900, the same we saw at last year’s Le Bourget. An E195-E2. And that’s it for the passenger airliner world.

Absolutely thrilled to win our first Aerospace Media Award — in our very first year — for one of our #accessibility features. Like all our accessibility work, we make it available free to read for everyone, and thank our subscribers enormously for their support. theupfront.media/disabled-pas...

Curious about how inflight entertainment screens get to the seatback in front of you? Do we have a podcast episode for you! From working with Boeing and Airbus, to getting USB-C onboard, to how Panasonic gets the screens, CPUs and RAM in the component crunch, and more — a pre-#FIA25 must-listen.

The Chain, episode 10: Panasonic unpacks the inflight entertainment, connectivity and engagement supply chain

Want to know how the seatback entertainment world goes from components to airplane? We sit down for all the details with Andy Masson from Panasonic Avionics

theupfront.media

Curious about how inflight entertainment screens get to the seatback in front of you? Do we have a podcast episode for you! From working with Boeing and Airbus, to getting USB-C onboard, to how Panasonic gets the screens, CPUs and RAM in the component crunch, and more — a pre-#FIA25 must-listen.

The Chain, episode 10: Panasonic unpacks the inflight entertainment, connectivity and engagement supply chain

Want to know how the seatback entertainment world goes from components to airplane? We sit down for all the details with Andy Masson from Panasonic Avionics

theupfront.media

Behind the reasons why so many brand new business class seats are launching with their doors locked open, and it's a genuinely bizarre situation for airlines and their seatmakers.

The Up Front@theupfront.media · last mo.

United’s new 787-9 seats are having their doors unlocked shortly — after flying for months with doors locked open by order of the FAA. This, and the other seats caught up in it, are one of the most bizarre regulatory issues facing airlines and their seatmakers. We explain what’s changed, and why.

United’s new 787-9 seats are having their doors unlocked shortly — after flying for months with doors locked open by order of the FAA. This, and the other seats caught up in it, are one of the most bizarre regulatory issues facing airlines and their seatmakers. We explain what’s changed, and why.

The blockers behind United’s soon-to-be unlocked new Polaris Elevate Ascent seat doors — plus wider questions around naive user testing

As United gets ready to open up (or, rather, close up) its suite doors in Polaris business on its new 787-9, we discuss the problem that kept them locked open, and what it means for regulation in the ...

theupfront.media

United’s new 787-9 seats are having their doors unlocked shortly — after flying for months with doors locked open by order of the FAA. This, and the other seats caught up in it, are one of the most bizarre regulatory issues facing airlines and their seatmakers. We explain what’s changed, and why.

The blockers behind United’s soon-to-be unlocked new Polaris Elevate Ascent seat doors — plus wider questions around naive user testing

As United gets ready to open up (or, rather, close up) its suite doors in Polaris business on its new 787-9, we discuss the problem that kept them locked open, and what it means for regulation in the ...

theupfront.media

There’s been a LOT of industry kerfuffle about Collins Aerospace’s Aurora seat, but in the Air Canada version it’s exceptional. It reminds me of one of my favourite herringbone seats of all time, except more private, more comfortable — oh, and on an A321neo, not a 747, which still feels just wild.

Onboard Air Canada’s A321XLR: a strong argument for narrowbody business — and the controversial doorless version of Collins’ Aurora seat

A doorless inward-facing herringbone seat might feel very 2003, but the real-world experience on the AC version of this much-discussed business class seat makes quite the impression — and several good...

theupfront.media

There’s been a LOT of industry kerfuffle about Collins Aerospace’s Aurora seat, but in the Air Canada version it’s exceptional. It reminds me of one of my favourite herringbone seats of all time, except more private, more comfortable — oh, and on an A321neo, not a 747, which still feels just wild.

Onboard Air Canada’s A321XLR: a strong argument for narrowbody business — and the controversial doorless version of Collins’ Aurora seat

A doorless inward-facing herringbone seat might feel very 2003, but the real-world experience on the AC version of this much-discussed business class seat makes quite the impression — and several good...

theupfront.media

3D-printed parts for seats and cabin upgrades? It’s more likely than you think. Our podcast The Chain is back, reflecting on the state of the industry — and its supply chain — post-AIX, focussing on parts, retrofits, materials and certification. Listen on the site or your favourite app:

The Chain, episode 9: updating seats and cabins, material upgrades, and additive manufacturing, with LHT and Boltaron

We reflect on the state of the industry — and its supply chain — post-AIX, focussing on parts, retrofits, materials and certification, with Lufthansa Technik’s Christopher Eyser and SIMONA Boltaron’s ...

theupfront.media

Our very latest: combining industry intelligence from the RedCabin summit with what’s going on with KLM’s blocked A350 business class, all the way down to the deep detail on the supply chain. Plus: the latest plans to certify those final three Lufthansa Allegris 787 business class seats…

Business Readout: RedCabin intel, KLM A350 business seat delays, why there’s no ‘I’ in ‘ITCM’, the Lufthansa (Group) Mentality, and more

Plus: hot topics from the Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit, sharing the supply chain limelight, what next as accessibility requirements become mainstreamed… and the latest plans for certifying those f...

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Bonsoir hi from here in Montréal! Ahead of the inaugural flight of Air Canada’s A321XLR tomorrow, we quiz AC EVP/COO Mark Nasr about business, premium economy, the RASM/CASM tradeoffs of the middle cabin — and what that all means for other XLR operators.

Air Canada’s A321XLR, with no premium economy: an industry bellwether, or unique to the airline’s context?

Ahead of the inaugural flight of Air Canada’s A321XLR here in Montréal, we quiz EVP/COO Mark Nasr about business, premium economy, the RASM/CASM tradeoffs of the middle cabin — and what that all means...

theupfront.media

Ahead of this coming week’s RedCabin summit in Seeheim, we’re delighted to present to you our pre-show reading (and listening!) list, as RedCabin media partner:

Your RedCabin reading list: the state of the industry, accessibility, the Lufthansa Group’s new cabins, certification, and more

What to read — and listen to — so you’re fully informed for discussions at next week’s Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit Europe in Seeheim

theupfront.media

I couldn’t be more thrilled about this nomination. Every award and every finalist nod is fab, of course, but this one feels incredibly meaningful — because writing about accessibility, and changing the industry’s approach, is so important. You can support this work at theupfront.media/subscribe

The Up Front@theupfront.media · 3mo ago

Delighted that our first finalist nomination for the annual Aerospace Media Awards is for one of our accessibility features — in our first anniversary week! This, and all our #a11y work, is free for everyone to read. We think that's important. If you do too, we'd love your support as a subscriber.

Delighted that our first finalist nomination for the annual Aerospace Media Awards is for one of our accessibility features — in our first anniversary week! This, and all our #a11y work, is free for everyone to read. We think that's important. If you do too, we'd love your support as a subscriber.

Disabled passengers, airport wheelchairs and the pernicious myth of “Jetway Jesus”

Clickbait hacks aside, perpetuating inaccuracies about disabled passengers and wheelchair users is wrong — and counterproductive for aviation

theupfront.media

Is ANA's The Room still the world's best business class seat? Yes, hands down — here's why, here's why that matters for the next-gen FX version, and here's what it means for business class. Also features: my favourite inflight mini-cupboard and doyenne of Japanese entertainment Matsuko Deluxe.

Flying ANA’s 777 The Room and 787 Skylounge business class — and what they mean for the new The Room FX

Analysing the current experience aboard the world’s current best business class product, the Safran Fusio platform, plus its predecessor seat for All Nippon Airways, and extrapolating what their sofa-...

theupfront.media

The Chain is BACK — our latest episode dives deep into how aircraft cabins are designed, and how the suppliers that manufacture them work. From the materials science of pearlescent thermoplastics to how it’s all program-managed, we bring two key experts together for a fascinating conversation.

The Chain, episode 8, live from AIX: ACS UK and Boltaron discuss customisation and certification within the cabin — and how to get it right

Elizabeth Payne from ACS UK and Michael Robinette from Boltaron sit down live with us at the Aircraft Interiors Expo for a wide-ranging episode, covering everything from design to materials science… a...

theupfront.media

Another normal day in the Up Front Towers

John Walton@thatjohn.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Help! I need a fashion historian (or fan) of handbags — AKA purses, the woman-coded bag you put things in — from the 80s to today. Essentially, I need to know when a certain style of handbag became popular, and what 5–10-year era it symbolises. RTs and tagging others in the comments very welcome!

Absolutely impeccable 1986 travel vibes in this quick archive video. Incredible to see how similar — and different — it is to today.

1986: Email - the Perfect Tech for the Jet Set? | Micro Live | BBC Archive

YouTube video by BBC Archive

youtu.be

How do you create an entirely new airline design aesthetic — both for new aircraft with new seats and a wildly disparate fleet from propeller planes to big jets? Air Canada is doing a truly impressive job with its Glowing Hearted vision, and we sat down with the teams behind it:

Redesigning what Air Canada means: inside the Glowing Hearted vision for the airline’s future

From new materials and aesthetics to new seats on new airplanes, to hundreds of retrofits covering Q400s to 777-300ERs, we sit down with Air Canada’s executive, design, brand and product teams to unde...

theupfront.media

How do you create an entirely new airline design aesthetic — both for new aircraft with new seats and a wildly disparate fleet from propeller planes to big jets? Air Canada is doing a truly impressive job with its Glowing Hearted vision, and we sat down with the teams behind it:

Redesigning what Air Canada means: inside the Glowing Hearted vision for the airline’s future

From new materials and aesthetics to new seats on new airplanes, to hundreds of retrofits covering Q400s to 777-300ERs, we sit down with Air Canada’s executive, design, brand and product teams to unde...

theupfront.media

Lufthansa is upping its ITA stake from 49% to 90%, subject to regulatory approvals, aiming to close in Q1 2027.

Today’s “historic announcement regarding the A220 programme” was a truly fascinating and enlightening set of speeches, questions and answers about an airplane that had not just been purchased: the A220-500. Our comprehensive, in-depth report — including our translations of the parts only in French:

150 AirAsia A220-300s: a big order for Airbus and for Mirabel — but good news rather than big news for the A220 programme

Tony Fernandes signs for the A220’s biggest order yet, 150 of the 160-seater high-density versions of the current largest member of the family, but the ASEAN LCC would buy another 150 of the much-disc...

theupfront.media

Well, that’s the Malaysian flag next to the Canadian and Québec flag on the big Airbus announcement livestream, so it looks like this is an AirAsia deal. Massive significance for the A220 — but which A220, and how dense is AirAsia going… six-abreast?

Business Readout: Ahead of Airbus’ big A220 announcement in Montréal: what the A220-500 stretch, new cabins — and six-abreast seats — could mean for the “cute little airplane”

Airbus is holding a late-breaking media event in Montréal on Wednesday, 6 May, and the speculation is that it’s the long-expected AirAsia order for the A220. Cabin geometry, Airbus history and a serie...

theupfront.media

186-seater A220? (Yes, you read that right.) Six-abreast seating on what used to be the C Series? Our critical industry intelligence draws on over a decade of reporting on the A220, né C Series — at Bombardier and then Airbus — ahead of the big announcement tomorrow in Montréal.

Business Readout: Ahead of Airbus’ big A220 announcement in Montréal: what the A220-500 stretch, new cabins — and six-abreast seats — could mean for the “cute little airplane”

Airbus is holding a late-breaking media event in Montréal on Wednesday, 6 May, and the speculation is that it’s the long-expected AirAsia order for the A220. Cabin geometry, Airbus history and a serie...

theupfront.media