Page 23 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 Online Magazine

AIRCRAfT INduSTRy

AAA: What will the cabin
environment be like on the A350?
Alan Pardoe – One of the most tangible
benefits of the A350 XWB is that it is
wider that the 787 and offers seats that
are 18” wide. Some aspects of the cabin
experience in an aircraft are difficult to
describe, for example on the A380 the
vast majority of comments are favourable
with regards to its quieter cabin and cabin
air conditioning that offers no draught.
So these are a result of combination of
the aircraft’s design, quieter engines and
more refined air conditioning.
Joost Van Der Heijden – We have paid a lot
Alan Pardoe, Head of Marketing Joost Van Der Heijden Head of Marketing of attention to the air quality on the A350
Communications, Airbus Asia, Airbus and the filters we use. We are also offering
very expensive mood lighting that offer a
Space-Flex’s benefit of accommodating up interest today in Premium Economy as number of scenarios and contribute to the
to six extra passenger seats. Airbus will well. Our A380 lends itself extremely well comfortable ambience inside the aircraft.
also introduce its new pivoting overhead to a four class configuration of First Class, Basically we are looking at creating
stowage option for the A320 family aircraft Business Class, Premium Economy and an appealing cabin atmosphere with
from Q1 2016. Also available for retrofit, Economy. attractive and comfortable interiors.
the new pivoting cabins offer the “most Joost Van Der Heijden - The A320 family
overhead stowage volume of any single- has an instant advantage compared to the AAA: What is the seating flexibility
aisle airliner per passenger” says Airbus 737 with its seven inch wider fuselage. offered on the A321 that allows for
and 10 percent increased volume over Some airlines choose a wider seat while more passengers to be carried?
current A320 bins. others choose a wider aisle. A wider Alan Pardoe - The A320 family was
aisle helps reduce turnaround time and designed in an era where large galleys
Excerpts from an interview AAA’s J K resulting in better productivity. were required for inflight catering,
Chandra had with Alan Pardoe, Head of however technology has evolved over the
Marketing,Communications Airbus and AAA: What are the latest years. Today, many customers require
Joost Van Der Heijden Head of Marketing developments in this area? only half the volume provided in the
Asia,Airbus. Alan Pardoe – We are seeing an galley. So we repackaged the galley and
increased proportion of IFE or some form washrooms at the rear, with the two
AAA:What seating and In-Flight of connectivity on-board commercial galleys and washrooms being redesigned
Entertainment (IFE) options are offered airplanes today. This includes Wi-Fi to liberate six more seats on the A321neo.
on Airbus commercial jetliners? access and the ability to uses personal Joost Van Der Heijden - This particular
Alan Pardoe - With regards to Single Aisle entertainment devices on the airplane. development is for the A320 family which
airplanes such as our A320 family, seat Essentially airlines are equipping their already offers additional width, allowing
manufacturers have succeeded in making aircraft with IFE systems or working with for more seats. So with ‘Cabin Flex’ we’re
passenger seats that are substantially the assumption that the passenger will using the cabin space as innovatively
lighter and slimmer without reducing carry his/her own portable entertainment and efficiently as we can. The option will
comfort levels. These seats have also device. be available on A321 from latter half of
helped in increasing the space available Joost Van Der Heijden – We offer our 2017 for airlines. The first A320neo will
inside the cabin. Fuel efficiency of the customers the aircraft as a platform that be ready for entry into service in the last
airplane is also improved as a result is able to handle any type of connectivity quarter of next year. Neo will offer a four
of the reduced weight. Airbus is wholly demanded by the customer. The choice percent improvement in fuel efficiency
dependent on external suppliers for its of IFE system and its integration is left to as a result of Sharklet wingtips and new
aircraft seating requirements. them. 4th generation IFE systems can be generation high bypass engines.
With regards to wide body airplanes we implemented on all Airbus narrowbody
see a shift towards fewer First Class seats and widebody airliners. Of course, not all
and more Business Class seats offering airlines decide on IFE for their single aisle
full flat seating. There is also increased airplanes for reasons of cost.
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