Air France is preparing to upgrade the cabins of the Embraer 190s operated by regional subsidiary HOP. The flag-carrier’s regional operation currently flies 21 E190s, with two more scheduled to join the fleet this summer.
As the centerpiece of a move to align cabin standards with the fleet of Airbus A220s operated by the mainline fleet, HOP will introduce new seats made by French company Expliseat.
Expliseat manufactures what it describes as an innovative carbon fiber and titanium seat combining a lightweight and sustainable design with enhanced comfort, durability and functionality.
The new seats, customized to HOP’s requirements, will be manufactured and assembled in Angers, France.
As well as the new seats, the E190s’ cabin decor will receive a makeover in Air France’s signature colors, including cabin wall panels and carpets.
The refurbishment of the E190s will start at HOP’s maintenance site at Clermont-Ferrand, central France after the busy summer period. The first of the modernized aircraft will fly in autumn this year.
Air France says that the new seats will be consistent with the standards of comfort offered on board the Airbus A220, which operates an increasing proportion of the flag-carrier’s short- and medium-haul fleet.
Air France declined to give further details of the new seat, which will be unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg at the end of May.
Expliseat, which describes itself as the manufacturer of the world’s lightest aircraft seat, said March 21 that the E190 would receive a new variant of its TiSeat, with Air France the launch customer.
“Leveraging its patented titanium and composite fiber frame…this latest evolution of the TiSeat combines unparalleled reduction in seat weight, significant improvement in seat robustness and sustainability with advanced comfort and design features,” Expliseat said in a statement.
There is no word as yet on whether the new seats will also be retrofitted to HOP’s fleet of 13 smaller E170s.
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