UP F RONT
2
British Airways
is also launching
an A350 with
new hardware.
See overleaf…
1 2
The airline has found it enjoys positive sentiment
from passengers when they see a social area upon
boarding, as it gives them the feeling of being on a
special airplane. To ensure The Loft gives that ‘wow’
factor, unique exotic materials and finishes have been
applied, including a wide range of multi-paint systems,
custom-made Isovolta laminates, hard black anodised
bar surfaces, black nickel and gold plating, all shown to
their best by the bespoke RGB-W LED system. A
Boltaron material was specially designed for the project,
with a feature pattern interlayered between transparent
sheets creating a window design that allows passengers
to see a silhouette of the activity in the social area.
The space and finishes were designed in collaboration
with London-based studio, Factorydesign.
Each of the 44 suites has a 44in pitch,
a bed length of up to 82in, and 18.5in IFE
displays – significantly larger than the
11.1in displays on the B787, though there
is also a greater viewing distance. The IFE
is Zii’s RAVE system, with an intuitive GUI
that is controllable through customers’
own personal devices.
The seat choice coincides with British
Airways selecting a more conventional
seat for its A350 Club World, launching
in July with the Collins Aerospace Super
Diamond, also in a 1-2-1 herringbone.
ai r c raf t inter iorsinternat ional . com 015
JUNE 2019
LOFTY AMBITIONS
Virgin Atlantic’s fleet renewal program is continuing
with the launch of its A350-1000, featuring a
dramatically reconsidered and redesigned Upper Class
1. THE LOFT FEATURES A 32IN
MONITOR, WHICH CAN SHOW
CONTENT SUCH AS A LIVE
TAILCAM, MOVING MAP OR IFE,
WITH AUDIO FED THROUGH
BLUETOOTH HEADSETS
2. UPPER CLASS PASSENGERS
ON THE A350 WILL HAVE
THE MOST PRIVATE IN-SEAT
EXPERIENCE ON THE VIRGIN
ATLANTIC FLEET
This summer will see Virgin Atlantic launch the first of
its 12 Airbus A350-1000s due to be delivered between
2019 and 2021 in an order worth an estimated US$4.4
billion. To mark the arrival of this innovative aircraft, the
airline has made some fundamental changes to the
passenger experience for the A350 Upper Class cabins.
A key change is in the social space. The onboard bar
has been a centrepiece of the Upper Class experience
since 1995, when the airline introduced the feature on
its B747 fleet. While many passengers love these lively
spaces, some find them a little noisy, so they may
appreciate the A350’s change of emphasis from bar to
lounge. The space, named The Loft, will be the largest
social space in the airline’s fleet, intended as a place for
customers to chat, dine or enjoy afternoon tea – though
they can still enjoy a quiet drink.
While the design and emphasis of the space has
changed, the supplier has not: AIM Altitude has worked
on all of Virgin Atlantic’s onboard social spaces since
that original B747 bar. The Loft cleverly integrates the
available cross-aisle space to create an area that is
floorspace-efficient yet surprisingly spacious. The
lounge comprises a centre section of monuments
with an independent ceiling, which is attached to the
monuments themselves, rather than the aircraft
structure. The ceiling is designed to separate the area
into two zones: an intimate bar area, and a spacious
lounge with sofa-style seating for five passengers and
room for a further three people to stand. In the event of
turbulence, Loft occupants can fasten their seatbelts on
the sofas rather than returning to their seats.
CIRRUS SUITE
Upper Class cabin customers will also
experience a new suite on the Airbus
A350-1000: a customised Safran Cirrus
NG herringbone which has been designed
in collaboration with the airline’s most
frequent flyers. The airline has had
distinctive LOPAs in recent projects such
as the B787 and A330, but the A350
features a more conventional 1-2-1
herringbone layout, with direct aisle
access and deployable privacy screens.
Visit aircraftinteriorsinternational.com for in-depth case studies of Virgin Atlantic’s cabins
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com