Jiatai to optimize economy seats for 10-abreast A350s

Jiatai, a unit of AVIC Cabin Systems, will optimize its economy class seats to support the new 10-abreast configuration for the Airbus A350’s New Production Standard (NPS).

As part of a “cooperation agreement” signed with Airbus at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, Jiatai committed to optimizing the seating layout of “the upgraded A350 cabin, allowing airlines to choose a cabin configuration with one additional seat per row, thereby significantly increasing “the aircraft’s passenger capacity,” the company 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, Jiatai, headquartered in Xiangyang, specializes in manufacturing economy class seats and premium class recliners (PDF). It is already a partner of Airbus on the A320 and A330 programs and operates under the full name of Jiatai Aircraft Equipment Co., Ltd.

“Jiatai has successfully delivered passenger seats to more than 100 Airbus aircraft, and the products have received high praise from Airbus and customers,” said Jiatai, sister company of other AVIC brands including Thompson Aero Seating, ACS UK and FACC.

“In 2023 and 2024, Jiatai will be appointed as a premium supplier of Airbus.”

Airbus’ new production standard for the A350 reduces airframe weight, improves performance and makes the cabin four inches longer and wider. This latest refinement allows airlines to add up to thirty additional economy seats on board, with seats configured in a 3-4-3 layout, if they choose.

(Some airlines, however, choose to retain a 9-abreast configuration and wider seats on board the A350 NPS, notably Iberia.)

RGN has requested additional color from Jiatai regarding when it expects its economy class seats to be officially inducted into the A350 BFE catalog and how it will optimize its economy class platform to accommodate the width of 17-inch seats for A350 NPS wide-body aircraft at 10 abreast. . We will update readers when we know more.

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Featured image credited to Jiatai Aircraft Equipment Co., Ltd.