AND F INALLY…
Highlights of 2019
LET’S FINISH WITH SOME GREAT AVIATION MOMENTS FROM 2019,
AS REPORTED ON AIRCRAFTINTERIORSINTERNATIONAL.COM
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
Acumen Design Associates..............................51
Aerofoam Industries.......................................123
Aerolux.................................................26, 34, 119
AIM Altitude.......................................................71
Aircraft Interiors Expo 2020....................... 33, 97
Almadesign........................................................67
Altran Deutschland...........................................31
Astronics Corporation.....................................132
Aviointeriors....................................................107
Beadlight..........................................................143
Boltaron Inc a Simona Company...................141
Bucher Leichtbau..............................................23
Caon Studio........................................................87
Cruise Liner Interiors International.................20
Design Investment............................................75
Design Q.............................................................82
Diehl Aerospace...............................................103
ELeather.............................................................29
Embraer Commercial......................................137
Factorydesign....................................................47
Flight Interiors.........................Inside Back Cover
Geven....................................................................4
Greiner Aerospace.............................................12
HAECO Americas.............................................111
JetlinerCabins.com..........................................131
JPA Design..........................................................55
Lonseal...............................................................15
Muirhead..........................................................145
Müller|Romca...................................................79
PearsonLloyd.....................................................63
Perrone Aerospace..........................................115
PriestmanGoode...............................................43
Recaro Aircraft Seating..........Inside Front Cover
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Schroth Safety Products..................................92
Sekisui SPI..........................................................98
Stelia Aerospace..............................................135
Style & Design...................................................91
Tangerine...........................................................59
Tapis Corporation........................................ 7, 127
Teague................................................................39
Techknital Fabrics.............................................92
Thompson Aero Seating......Outside Back Cover
True Blue Power..............................................139
WASP..................................................................17
JANUARY
The year began with major airline
announcements, including BA making
a ‘substantial’ upgrade of its premium
economy, Gulf Air restyling itself
as a boutique airline, and LATAM
revealing new interiors, created with
PriestmanGoode (p40). In IFEC news,
digEcor acquired the IFE interests of
Collins Aerospace, making it the thirdlargest
IFE player in the market.
FEBRUARY
Exciting news as Boeing announced
a partnership with Aerion, with
“significant” investment” to help the
company develop next-generation
supersonic aircraft for launch in
2023. Further airframe news came
from Bombardier, which launched
the CRJ550, the first triple-class
50-seat aircraft. United Airlines was
announced as launch customer.
MARCH
A landmark moment as BA unveiled
its all-new Club Suite, which
introduces 100% direct aisle access in
a 1-2-1 forward-facing configuration,
and privacy doors. Economy class
announcements included Qatar
Airways’ seat featuring “an innovative
19° recline system”, while Thomas
Cook Airlines (TCX) revealed a flat-bed
option. Sadly TCX entered liquidation
in September.
APRIL
The launch customer of Adient
Aerospace’s seating range was
announced as Hawaiian Airlines,
which will fit the modular Ascent
system on its B787-9s. Also this
month, Airbus announced that it
is productionising its ‘Connected
Experience’ concept, an IoT platform
that links galleys, trolleys, seats,
bins and other cabin elements.
Stelia (see p134) is contributing a
connected version of its Opal seat.
MAY
A month for celebration, with
Airbus’s 50th anniversary. It
has been a joy to cover Airbus’s
innovations and designs over
the decades in Aircraft Interiors
International. It was also a big
month for Geven, which was
approved as a supplier of line-fit
economy seats on the B787.
JUNE
Mitsubishi announced its SpaceJet
family of regional aircraft, and also
agreed to acquire Bombardier’s
CRJ programme. Meanwhile Boom
partnered with JPA Design to develop
the interior of its Overture Mach 2.2
aircraft (see p52).
JULY
ANA revealed luxurious B777-300ER
cabins, which include business
and first class suites designed by
Acumen and styled by Japanese
architect, Kengo Kuma (see p48).
In the IFEC world, ThinKom
Solutions completed the first live
test of a phased-array LEO antenna,
intended to provide seamless,
low latency, high-throughput
broadband services.
AUGUST
Astronics revealed plans to introduce
several new connectivity and power
technologies, including in-seat power,
connectivity and data systems.
Intelsat celebrated the launch of
the Intelsat 39 satellite, intended
to provide video distribution and
connectivity services.
SEPTEMBER
Airbus commenced in-flight trials
of the ‘Connected Experience’ IoT
system, on board an A350-900 – the
first flight-test of actual connected
cabin innovations. A rival to BA’s
revamped Club World launched, with
Virgin Atlantic’s A350-1000 featuring
all-new cabin designs, including a
new seating platform and the Loft
social area (see p44).
OCTOBER
Qantas completed the first of its
A380 mid-life cabin upgrades,
with an all-premium upper deck,
including a substantially upgraded
social zone (see p84). In IFEC news,
Gogo announced that Cisco, Airspan
Networks and First RF will help
develop its 5G system and network.
NOVEMBER
As part of a pilot project, Recaro
(p94) installed ‘connected seats’ on
a TAP Air Portugal A321. The trial
also marks the first time that Recaro
has designed, produced and certified
an aircraft installation under its
own DOA authority. During another
trial, ThinKom’s Ka2517 phasedarray
aero antenna demonstrated
seamless beam-to-beam and interconstellation
handover with SES’s
MEO and GEO satellites.
DECEMBER
This issue went to press in November,
and during December we’re preparing
content for 2020. There are many
projects under NDAs that we can’t tell
you about yet, but we can reveal that
we are looking forward to innovations
in every class of travel. But will we
see the B737 MAX return to service
in 2020?
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