Finnair introduced its new business class and premium economy seats on Airbus A350 flights to Singapore, marking a significant milestone for the airline. With Singapore being a key destination for Finnair in Asia and a popular connecting hub for Australian travelers heading to Helsinki and beyond, the launch will test the innovative non-reclining business class seat during the 12-hour journey.
Finnair is upgrading its A330 and A350 aircraft to incorporate the new business class seats. Ahead of the official launch, the airline will offer complimentary upgrades to premium economy for selected economy class passengers. The introduction of these radical new seat designs, already in operation on select Finnair routes and set to be installed throughout the entire Airbus A330 and A350 fleet, is part of the airline’s comprehensive long-haul cabin renewal program, which involved a significant investment of €200 million.
Notably, the business class seat stands out with its distinctive and unconventional design, setting it apart from other offerings in the industry.
Finnair’s new business class
Finnair is embarking on a comprehensive refurbishment program for its A330 and A350 aircraft, which includes the removal of the existing business class seats. In their place, a new seating concept resembling a spacious and comfortable lounge will be introduced. This transformative upgrade reflects Finnair’s commitment to enhancing the in-flight experience for its passengers.
Diverging from traditional seating arrangements, the new business class seat on Finnair’s aircraft is designed without the ability to recline. Instead, the entire seat area is a unified space, encouraging passengers to view it as a luxurious and customizable environment. In essence, it offers an exclusive and personalized experience, akin to having your own private sofa in the sky.
Finnair asserts that the seat is meticulously crafted to optimize passenger comfort, provide ample space, and offer freedom of movement throughout the duration of a long-haul flight.
Enclosed within a stationary contoured structure, the seat provides a secluded and intimate space, ensuring privacy for passengers. It offers a comfortable and flexible seating arrangement, allowing travelers to sit, recline, or extend their legs using the ottoman and adjustable legrest. These features, referred to as ‘infill panes,’ enable passengers to transform the seat into a fully-flat bed, accompanied by a premium Marimekko mattress and duvet for a restful sleep experience.
A noteworthy aspect is that although the seat does not recline, it provides a lie-flat bed arrangement with a clever design feature allowing passengers to tuck their feet into a recess beneath the seat in front. While the exact length of the bed has not been disclosed by Finnair, this feature enhances the sleeping comfort for passengers.
In collaboration with Airbus, Finnair has optimized the use of space in the footwell by positioning the seat module in close proximity to the aircraft’s interior wall. This design choice deviates from the conventional approach of incorporating a self-contained cubby within the seat.
According to David Kondo, the leader of Finnair’s Customer Experience team, their aim was to reimagine the concept of business class by creating a residential-like environment that offers the same level of comfort one would expect in their own home.
Through the elimination of complex seat mechanisms and the utilization of 3D curved shells, Finnair has succeeded in offering a more spacious and adaptable living space. This innovative design enables passengers to move more freely and assume various positions that are typically restricted by traditional aircraft seats.
In contrast to a typical living room lounge, Finnair’s business class design incorporates dedicated compartments for personal belongings, such as laptops or large tablets. Furthermore, the seating area offers an array of charging options, including AC, USB-A, USB-C ports, and even wireless mobile charging capabilities on the side table.
Additionally, each seating area is equipped with an 18-inch HD video screen for entertainment purposes. A customized LED lamp serves multiple functions, functioning as a reading light, a Do Not Disturb indicator, and providing cabin mood lighting designed to alleviate the impact of jet lag. Moreover, the mood lighting creates a subtle Northern Lights ambiance when the cabin is dimmed for sleep.
Although the middle seats in the 1-2-1 configuration do not merge into a singular expansive lounge, the divider separating them can be lowered, allowing travelers to share their journey with a companion.
Finnair draws inspiration from lounge furniture for its innovative concept, which is based on the AirLounge model from Collins Aerospace. Finnair holds the distinction of being the esteemed launch customer for this design. It is worth mentioning that the AirLounge is an evolution of the original and groundbreaking “sofa class” seat developed by design leaders PriestmanGoode nearly a decade ago for British Airways, as depicted in the patent application image below.
Finnair’s innovative concept is inspired by lounge furniture and is built upon the AirLounge model developed by Collins Aerospace. Finnair proudly serves as the launch customer for this design, which is an evolution of the original “sofa class” seat created by renowned design firm PriestmanGoode for British Airways nearly a decade ago. The patent application image below showcases the initial design.
Tangerine, an influential design agency, highlights the Nordic culture’s warm and inviting spirit, appreciation for expansive natural surroundings, and affinity for minimalist aesthetics as key inspirations for creating a homely atmosphere with furniture-like seating and lighting. Matt Round, the Chief Creative Officer at Tangerine, expresses that this collaboration has provided a distinctive opportunity to shape an authentic Nordic travel experience.
