ELE ATHER
and, more often than not, are
uncomfortable to sit on.
For airlines adopting a more
environmentally conscious approach
to the materials they use, there is an
opportunity to not just help the planet,
but also to improve revenues.
DRIVING MATERIAL CHANGE
The high-performance engineered leather
created by ELeather is developed from
unused leather offcuts, which benefits
from a sustainable manufacturing process
– and it is already flying with more than
200 airlines, including four of the world’s
largest. Each airline has its own unique
requirements when it comes to selecting
materials for seating and cladding. To
meet these varied needs, ELeather
engineered leather is available in an
almost endless selection of colours and
a wide variety of textures and grains.
This versatility facilitates consistent brand
representation while also providing the
opportunity to differentiate areas of the
aircraft through material selection.
When airlines speak of their reasons
for selecting ELeather engineered leather,
the motivations range from practical
requirements (durability, hygiene, etc) to
the customer experience (comfort and
style have never been more important).
In addition, airlines must also consider
the commercial impact that materials
can have (ELeather engineered leather is
lighter than traditional leather, which helps
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
118 ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2020
ELeather exports
to over 40 countries,
and has more than
reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions)
along with sustainability (the ELeather
production process transforms leather
into advanced materials while achieving
a lower environmental footprint).
The benefits of ELeather are not limited
to aviation. The rail industry is widely
considered to be the most environmentally
friendly form of travel, and in this sector
designers have equally needed to consider
that eco-conscious travellers won’t
appreciate a carriage fitted with
unsustainable materials.
To date, more than 12,000 trains are
fitted with ELeather materials. A similar
trend can be seen in the bus industry,
in which another 12,000 vehicles are
using ELeather engineered leather.
RESPONSIBLE’ DOESN’T
MEAN BASIC
In the future of aviation, sustainability is
key. However, while it’s an increasingly
important – and often deciding – factor for
many travellers, it doesn’t mean that they
3. JETBLUE HAS FITTED ELEATHER
IN ITS FLEET, INCLUDING ITS
‘EVEN MORE SPACE’ SEATS
are willing to completely sacrifice little
touches of luxury. Customer expectations
continue to rise and will have a significant
impact on what the future of aviation
looks like.
To meet these expectations, airlines
need to understand that a sustainable
aircraft doesn’t necessarily mean a basic
passenger experience. Airlines must focus
on comfort, practicality and efficiency –
while also delivering differentiation
through experience.
One way in which they are doing this
is through giving existing seats a new
lease of life through refurbishment using
innovative materials. By reupholstering,
they’re able to upgrade customer
experiences at a fraction of the cost
of replacing the entire seat. Cabin
refurbishments can not only extend
the life of a plane, but improve the
flyer experiences too.
Another example is the surge in luxury
amenity kits. Many airlines consider such
kits to be a relatively simple way of
delighting customers and standing out
from the crowd. Whether it’s Virgin
Atlantic partnering with Hershel or
Etihad working with Christian Lacroix,
airlines are understanding that these
small touches are a useful way to help
secure repeat customers.
MEETING THE NEEDS OF
RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLERS
Today’s travellers have multiple factors
that influence their choice of airline. In the
past, cost and convenience were the main
considerations. Today, sustainability,
inflight perks and comfort all have a huge
impact on why passengers choose certain
airlines. Simple changes, such as seat
upholstery and luxury amenity kits, can
make the difference between whether a
customer keeps coming back, or chooses
to fly with a competitor.
200 airline
customers
2
3
“ A SUSTAINABLE
AIRCRAFT DOESN’T
NECESSARILY MEAN
A BASIC PASSENGER
EXPERIENCE”
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