Thompson Aero Seating's VantageSOLO to fly on Iberia A321 XLR
Thompson Aero Seating's VantageSOLO for Iberia's A321 XLR
Thompson Aero Seating’s VantageSOLO will take flight with Iberia this week on the very first A321 XLR. The vision behind Iberia’s A321 XLR is to enable the airline to use a single-aisle aircraft for long-haul flights, while maintaining the same premium service enjoyed on its twin-aisle aircraft, with VantageSOLO seats supporting the comfort of passengers in Business Class.
The VantageSOLO was initially developed by Thompson and Factorydesign in response to increasing Business Class cabin requirements on board the medium-to-long-range latest generation of single-aisle aircraft, Thompson Aero Seating said in a November 13 press release. Thompson was the first to design and certify this type of seating product a number of years ago with Iberia’s Business Class passengers being the latest to experience a fully horizontal flat bed seat, offering direct-aisle access.
Factorydesign and Thompson have a long history of working together to bring about a vision that promotes wellbeing in conjunction with a feeling of luxury. Iberia chose this pairing for the Business Class interior of its A321 XLR. Soft, natural elements have been carefully selected for the trim and finish. Warm, woven materials are used to promote a welcoming feel, and wood-effects further support this theme.
Fixed screens have been selected by Iberia to increase the sense of privacy for passengers travelling in the VantageSOLO in Business Class. Each seat features its own lighting system, which the passenger can adjust to create its own individual atmosphere. Seatback 18-inch 4K monitors entertain passengers inflight. There are 14 business class seats in each of Iberia’s A321 XLRs and Thompson will deliver eight ship sets in total.
“The VantageSOLO is both elegant and efficient. Because it has been developed specifically for the long-range narrow-body market it makes the absolute most of every inch of space available, giving the passenger impressive comfort and privacy. We were delighted to work with Iberia on such an exciting project,” said James McNally, Programme Manager, Thompson Aero Seating.
Marco Sansavini, CEO and President of Iberia, said: “We are very proud to be the launch airline for this new aircraft. The A321XLR will allow us to reach new destinations,
operate transoceanic routes and do so more efficiently. And we do so while providing our Business customers with all the comfort that VantageSOLO offers.”
