Kuwaiti low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways has unveiled a new partnership with French design firm Expliseat to slash weight and reduce emissions.
New seating options
Paris-based Expliseat, known for its ultra-lightweight aircraft interiors, will provide Jazeera Airways with over 2,000 TiSeat E2 model seats, the lightest on the market. The retrofitted interiors are set to cut up to 1,200 kg (2,646 lbs) in excess weight from the airline’s Airbus A320 family fleet while adding a row to bolster capacity.
Comprised of a composite and titanium frame, the newly launched TiSeat E2 weighs just 6.8 kg (15 lbs), roughly 35% lighter than similar market offerings. Jazeera Airlines is not trading up comfort; the seat will retain the usual padding and recline functionality, offering a USB in-seat power system developed by Burrana and a portable electronic device holder at the carrier's request.
In a statement shared on Wednesday, Jazeera Airlines chief executive Rohit Ramachandran noted the financial and environmental benefits of the switch,
“The TiSeat will deliver a substantial weight saving of 1.2 metric tons per aircraft. The significant cost savings associated with this will help us to maximize our operational and financial performance. We are pleased to be an early adopter of this next generation lightweight economy seat, which offers passengers excellent comfort and cost saving.”
Building sustainable travel
Expliseat is no unproven industry newbie. With over 12 years of experience, the firm has worked with various manufacturers and airlines, low-cost and full-service, to develop sustainable seating options. According to the company, since 2011, the TiSeat range has assisted in reducing annual CO2 emissions by 2% to 5%.
Notable recent adopters include India’s SpiceJet, Porter Airlines, and Nolinor Aviation, which used the seating to refresh its 35-year-old Boeing 737-400 cabins.
In April, Expliseat announced it had received a €17 million ($18.2 million) cash injection from the French government’s Sociétés de Projets Industriels (SPI) fund. The financing will aid the company to expand into the electric vehicle market and construct a new factory in Angers. Alongside aviation, Expliseat is targeting other sustainable travel options, including high-speed and light rail, coaches, and boats.
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The new factory, located within the Pays de la Loire region of France, will triple Expliseat’s current industrial capacity, updating current systems to incorporate digital technologies through the manufacturing process.
Jazeera’s fleet plans
With Jazeera Airlines rapidly growing its network across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, the carrier is also set on expanding its fleet to boost capacity. According to ch-aviation, the airline currently operates eight A320-200 aircraft and 11 A320neo variants. An additional A320 is on wet lease from Romania’s Dan Air.
In May, Jazeera Airways’ board approved the lease of two A320s and two A321s to fill in ahead of deliveries later this year. The carrier expects to receive around five new Airbus aircraft by the end of the year, expanding to 35 jets by 2025.
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Source: ch-aviation