New sofa-style airline seats to transform the way passengers fly
NEW plane seats designed to look like sofas could one day be on all airlines.
The new designs have been revealed ahead of the RedCabin Trinity Awards shortlist.
Part of the annual Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit taking place later this year, one of the designs has been created by Optimares.
Called the SoFab seats, the new sofa-style design would be found in business class.
Other business class seats have a range of buttons to take a seat from upright, to reclined, to a lie-flat bed.
However, SoFab would have no electrical movements of mechanisms to create the bed.
The website calls it “a sofa that with a simple mechanical movement becomes a bed”.
Instead, an additional cushion is added into the space, creating a sofa-bed like seat.
This would allow passengers to “sleep in any position they choose; back, side, front, curled up or stretched out”.
They claim it allows 25 per cent more bed surface area than other business class seats.
For example, the length of the bed is around 78 inches .
This is compared to the Qatar Airways QSuite (read the Sun Travel’s review of it here) which is often named the best in the world and is 79 inches.
But the SoFab seat claims to be 40 inches wide – compared to the QSuite’s 21 inches.
Not only does it allow more room, but it also reduces the risk of a seat breaking – and not being able to be used.
The website states: “The overall seat is less complex than a traditional electrically reclining seat as it employs no actuation system.
“This results in the removal of risk that there will be a seat malfunction resulting in the blocking of a seat for sale.”
Tables will fold out to a full meal table, as well as fold in half to be used as a “cocktail side table” for drinks.
Other features include a privacy divider in the centre, stowage units in the wall and underseat, as well as a 21 inch inflight entertainment monitor.
Another perk for airlines is that it is much lighter – between 35 per cent to 50 per cent – compared to other business class seats.
This means flights would burn less fuel, saving money.
The seat design is yet to be introduced to any airline.
However, it is similar to the business class pods on Finnair flights, which also don’t recline.
Designed by Collins Aerospace, the Airlounge instead has a large wider space that has room to be a bed without any extra buttons to move the seat.
Sun Travel recently tried the Finnair business pod – here’s our verdict.
For economy travellers, an airline has revealed plans for a “business class style” seat without the cost.
Lufthansa will launch the new seats with extra legroom with a leg rest, coat hook and cocktail table in their premium economy section.
And British Airways is launches new “luxury” seats in economy – which the Sun’s Travel Editor Lisa Minot tried out.
Airlines with the best plane food
Korean Air
Korean Air won best airline cuisine in last year’s Global Traveler’s awards.
Some of their popular dishes onboard include bibimbap, a Korean rice dish, and ssambap, Korean rice lettuce rolls.
It also made the top 10 for airlines with the best plane food in CN Travelers 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Japan Airlines
Coming in first place in the Reader’s Choice Awards was Japan Airlines.
The airline has partnered with six Michelin-star chefs, each of whom have three stars – so you can expect it to be good.
Passengers can choose bento boxes and miso soups onboard.
Singapore Airlines
Often voted one of the best airlines in the world, it is no surprising Singapore Airlines is said to have some of the best plane food.
Chef Dennis Littley said: “Their gourmet meals rival those of ground-based restaurants.”
Dishes include congee, a rice porridge, as well as Singaporean rice and curry options.