Jiatai, a unit of AVIC Cabin Systems, will optimize its economy class seats to support the new 10-abreast configuration for the Airbus A350 New Production Standard (NPS).
Under a “cooperation agreement” inked with Airbus at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, Jiatai has committed to optimizing the seating layout of “the A350 enhanced cabin, enabling airlines to choose a cabin configuration with one additional seat per row, thus significantly increasing the aircraft’s passenger capacity,” the firm said in a statement shared with Runway Girl Network.
The arrangement would see the seats offered as buyer furnished equipment (BFE).
With three decades of experience, Xiangyang-headquartered Jiatai specializes in manufacturing economy class seats and premium class recliners (PDF). It is already a partner to Airbus on both the A320 and A330 programs, and operates under the full name Jiatai Aircraft Equipment Co., Ltd.
“Jiatai has successfully delivered passenger seats to over 100 aircraft of Airbus, and the products have received high praise from Airbus and customers,” said Jiatai, which is a sister company to other AVIC brands including Thompson Aero Seating, ACS UK and FACC.
“In the year of 2023 and 2024, Jiatai is awarded as premium supplier of Airbus.”
Airbus’ New Production Standard for the A350 reduces airframe weight, improves performance and makes the cabin longer — and four inches wider. The latter refinement allows airlines to add up to thirty extra economy seats onboard, with seats configured in a 3-4-3 layout, if they so choose.
(Some airlines are, however, opting to retain a 9-abreast layout and wider seats aboard the A350 NPS, including Iberia.)
RGN has sought additional color from Jiatai concerning when it expects its economy class seats to be formally inducted into the A350 BFE catalogue and how it will optimize its economy class platform to accommodate the 17-inch width of the seats for 10-abreast A350 NPS widebodies. We will update readers when we learn more.
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Featured image credited to Jiatai Aircraft Equipment Co., Ltd.
