V IRGIN A 350
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
NOVEMBER 2019 041
“Another piece of feedback was they wanted the centre
seats to face out. Ironically, on the rest of the fleet we do
have outward-facing centre seats, but inward-facing
window seats. We designed this aircraft with all Upper
Class seats facing out, which gives those in a window seat
a great view out the window and also brings a lot of light
into the centre suites. We are the only airline that has
a configuration with the
centre seats and the window
seats facing outwards.”
The 44 suites are based
on Safran’s Cirrus NG
platform at a 44in pitch, with
direct aisle access. The seats
were selected before Kerzner
joined the A350 interiors
project, but he explains that
while the centre seats in the
original Cirrus NG design
pointed inward, when an
option to have them facing
outwards became available,
it was decided that they were
a suitable platform.
“The big difference for us
is the natural light. When
the centre seats face inward
it creates a much more
closed off and darker feeling. For
us it’s not so much that you can see
out the window from the centre
seats – it’s really that natural light
pours into the cabin and adds to the
feeling of spaciousness,” says
Kerzner. “Customer feedback leading
up to the design of the aircraft and
in flight has been very favourable,
particularly of the airiness
and lightness of the cabin,
which goes beyond just
the direction the seats
are facing.”
Each outboard seat
has two windows on average,
though the view of one is
generally blocked by the in-seat
shelving. Kerzner explains that it
is hard to match the LOPA to the actual location of the
windows, but there is still a view from one window and
light from both, and that the seat furniture helps create
a luxurious suite environment.
Another key benefit of the A350 suites over the other
Upper Class suites in the fleet – as well as their larger
passenger envelope – is the greater privacy of the layout
and its higher walls, which help shield occupants from
the gaze of other passengers and aisle traffic. This feeling
of privacy is enhanced by the deployable privacy screen,
a half door that slides across to create more privacy from
the aisle.
Though small, the half door does add a surprising feel
of greater privacy when lying on the 82in bed. However,
why didn’t the team go the whole way and fit a full door?
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
The A350 is fitted with the RAVE IFE system from
Safran Passenger Innovations, with the new suite
layout enabling the largest ever screens in Upper
Class (18.5in), while Premium class has 13.3in
and economy has 11.6in.
Available content includes over 100 movies,
300 hours of TV shows, over 350 albums and
podcasts, over 45 hours of kids content, and
in-seat ordering of meals and drinks.
However, fans of flying will not be able to tear
themselves away from the new tailcam channel,
which shows live views from the tailcam as well
as a front-facing view from the underside of
the aircraft.
There is also an option to pair a smart device to
the IFE via wi-fi to enable second screen viewing.
So what are the advantages of this setup rather
than using a handset? Kerzner explains: “We’re
finding that people would rather use their own
technology. They would rather control the TV
using their own phone and they would rather use
their own headphones, even if they are not as
good as the ones we provide. I think the value of
giving customers the flexibility to use their own
devices is really important.”
Customers can also browse the internet via GX
KA-band wi-fi connectivity, provided by Inmarsat
and T-Mobile.
“We are the only airline that
has a configuration with
centre and window seats
facing outwards”
ABOVE: PASSENGERS CAN PUT
THE SEAT INTO BED MODE AT THE
TOUCH OF A BUTTON. THE FITTED
SHEET IS ALSO EASY TO SECURE
IN PLACE
Visit our website
for a gallery of candid
images from our flight
on the Virgin Atlantic
A350 -1000
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com