STELIA Aerospace marks major milestone in Air France premium seating partnership
STELIA delivered its 1,000th OPERA® WB premium passenger seat to Air France
STELIA Aerospace recently marked an important milestone in its partnership with Air France, delivering 1,000 OPERA WB seats to the French carrier. The relationship between the pair dates back to 2017 with the customization of the Equinox 2D seat, subsequently branded as Elysium, for Air France's A330 fleet.
“This initial program allowed Air France to identify STELIA Aerospace as a long-term partner possessing a high level of expertise and unique capabilities in premium cabin design,” Thierry Kanengieser, VP Cabin Interior at STELIA Aerospace, tells PAX Tech.
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Thierry Kanengieser, VP Cabin Interior at STELIA Aerospace
Kanengieser attributes the success of the collaboration to factors including a shared commitment to excellence in aviation, a highly bespoke approach to design and manufacturing and STELIA Aerospace’s deep expertise in premium seating.
Over the years, the partnership has evolved, with Air France eventually selecting STELIA Aerospace’s OPERA WB Business Class seat for its A350 fleet in 2019. This development was achieved within a challenging two-year timeframe.
“The successful ramp-up of deliveries in preparation for the Olympic Games further highlighted our operational capabilities. Most recently, the partnership has extended to the development of Air France's new "La Première" First Class cabin, which launched in May. This progression across multiple seat programs underscores a deepening collaboration based on established trust and shared objectives,” says Kanengieser.
Meaningful milestones
The delivery of the 1,000th OPERA WB seat to Air France this summer is what Kanengieser calls a “landmark achievement” for STELIA Aerospace, symbolizing both the strength and success of the long-standing partnership.
“As France's national carrier was the launch customer for this innovative seat, this milestone validates the confidence Air France placed in STELIA Aerospace and affirms the OPERA seat's position as a market-leading product,” says Kanengieser. “It represents a shared success story, highlighting the culmination of several years of collaboration and dedicated work from both companies, and strengthens the foundation for future partnership.”
The OPERA WB is distinct from other Business Class seats on the market with premium features that deliver an elevated passenger experience. These include enhanced privacy in the central seats via a panel that can be raised or lowered to offer increased individual privacy and the use of intentionally selected noble and natural materials such as fine wool, brushed aluminum and full-grain French leather to create a sophisticated cabin aesthetic. Kanengieser notes that the material selection is subject to airline customization and is specific to the Air France variant of the OPERA WB.
The seat also incorporates a 20-inch 4K Ultra High-Definition screen with Bluetooth connectivity, a control touchpad and a pairing function to connect personal devices to the seatback. Kanengieser reveals that the response to the product, both from the airline and its passengers, has been favorable.
“Passengers frequently highlight the seat's comfort and the generous bed size, describing the overall experience as exceptional, particularly in the first-row seats (Business Class Plus). From an operational standpoint, the seats are acknowledged by Air France for their reliability and robustness,” Kanengieser tells PAX Tech.
He adds that the seat received further validation at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, based on global customer satisfaction surveys where Air France's Business Class was ranked in the top five worldwide.
“This acclaim from passengers aligns with the satisfaction expressed by our customer airline,” Kanengieser says.
A premium position
For STELIA, the milestone of delivering 1000 OPERA WB seats in the high-profile Air France partnership reinforces the supplier’s position in the premium seating market segment.
“Air France, being a major airline known for its premium and luxury experience, provides STELIA Aerospace with substantial visibility in this segment through our collaborative development of both Business Class and First Class seats,” explains Kanengieser. “This market leadership is also demonstrated by our expansion into new regions and aircraft types.”
Kanengieser refers to the customized version of the OPERA SA (Single-Aisle) seat that was recently unveiled by Etihad Airways for its A321neo Business Class.
“This partnership marks a successful entry into the Middle East market and showcases the adaptability of the OPERA platform across various aircraft configurations,” Kanengieser continues. “STELIA Aerospace's ongoing focus remains on delivering high-quality products to existing partners and driving innovation to shape the future of the aviation seating industry."
