Monday, December 9, 2013

Air Canada unveils 787-8 cabin lay-out

Air Canada’s new Boeing 787-8s will feature three cabins with 251 seats, the carrier revealed today.

The aircraft will be divided into international business class, premium economy and economy cabins in a colour scheme based on grey and neutral colours accented with red and blue.

The new interior product will be featured on Air Canada's 787-8s entering the fleet in 2014 and the larger 787-9s that it will start to receive in 2015. Seating capacity for the latter variant has not yet been revealed.

The international business class cabin on the 787-8 will feature 20 “executive pods” with B/E Aerospace lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. The seats feature headrests with pneumatic cushions and a massaging function and will offer aisle access.

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Credit: Air Canada
 
Each business class pod will include an 18in screen with touch handsets for Panasonic Avionics' inflight entertainment system, as well as USB and universal power outlets.

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Credit: Air Canada
 
Air Canada’s premium economy cabin on the 787-8 will be outfitted with 21 Recaro seats in a 2-3-2 configuration with a 38in pitch. The seats measure 19.5in wide and provide 7in of recline.

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Credit: Air Canada

The premium economy seats will have 9in or 11in touchscreens for inflight entertainment and power. Air Canada will offer extra perks for premium economy passengers for meals and beverage service as well as priority check-in and baggage delivery.

The economy cabin is configured with 210 slimline B/E Aerospace seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, with a 31in pitch. Economy passengers will have 9in touchscreens for IFE and in-seat power.

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Credit: Air Canada
 
Air Canada has not yet detailed the specifications for seat capacity on the larger 787-9 aircraft that it will start adding to the fleet a year after the first 787-8 delivery.

Air Canada will start receiving 37 787s in the first half of 2014, with the first of 15 787-8 aircraft entering service in July. The order also consists of 22 larger 787-9s, which will start entering the fleet in July 2015. The carrier plans to receive all of the aircraft by the end of 2019.

"We are very excited to introduce completely re-designed seating and cabin amenities that will offer Air Canada customers the very best in comfort and contemporary design," said Ben Smith, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer of the Montreal-based airline. "With the arrival next spring of our first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Air Canada continues to renew its international widebody fleet with the next generation of modern and fuel efficient aircraft.”

(Kristin Majcher - Flightglobal News)

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