Mirus Aircraft Seating has unveiled its revolutionary mid-to-long-range economy seat, the Falcon, at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.

The Falcon weighs just 11 kg when fully dressed, and it is designed to make passenger space and comfort better with its slim backrest. It follows Mirus' design philosophy of simplicity and elegance and has been created to offer a comfortable, spacious product to long-haul economy flyers, while delivering weight savings for the airline too.

Mirus' team has taken a fully integrated industrial design approach to develop the Falcon, ensuring it meets the rigorous and diverse demands of the whole market, from ultra-low-cost to premium carriers.

The design philosophy of Falcon

The Falcon weighs around 11 kg per passenger and has a seat pitch of 29"-32". It helps airlines maximize the density of the economy cabin while still keeping passengers comfortable.

The Falcon has an articulated seat pan - a device that maintains the angle between the upper and lower body for comfort when reclining the back. It also has a six-way adjustable headrest, something that is fast becoming commonplace on any high-end economy product. It also features a hybrid composite seatback structure, delivering supportive comfort for passengers and weight-saving for the airlines.

The seat is compatible with 13-inch in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, allowing airlines to offer premium entertainment options. Although a few airlines have launched economy products with 13.3-inch screens in recent years (Virgin, Starlux, Condor, Emirates - to name a few), much of the global fleet is still languishing with 10- or 11-inch TVs. Mirus is bringing a competitive solution to market at just the right time.

By incorporating lightweight materials, airlines can reduce fuel consumption and lower their carbon footprint. Airlines can also choose bespoke custom finish options to proudly display their branding in the cabin. Like all Mirus seats, the Falcon comes with the unique Mirus Care extended warranty option, which lowers the lifetime cost of ownership. Airlines can expect their investment to be returned within a few years.

According to Ben McGuire, CEO of Mirus Aircraft Seating,

"In line with our zero-compromise mentality with regards to the maximization of passenger living space and comfort, the Falcon has a fully integrated industrial design approach and a sleek, modern look.

"Designed with long-range economy flights in mind, the Falcon is the first of our seats to support in-flight entertainment technology, and has a 15 degree seat recline.

The Falcon is testament to our mission to enhance the onboard experience of the economy class passenger at the intersection of the demands of commercial airlines."

Further optimization on Kestrel Economy Seat

Not content with bringing one product to market at AIX, Mirus Aircraft Seating also unveiled the updated Kestrel ultra-lightweight slimline economy seat. The production version of the Kestrel, which was first showcased in 2022, has undergone further weight reduction, shedding an additional 0.5kg per passenger. This achievement breaks the 7.5kg fully dressed barrier and solidifies the Kestrel as the undisputed leader in its class.

Shaving half a kilo off the Kestrel means it now weighs just 7 kg. But the manufacturer says that doesn't mean it won't be comfortable. Indeed, Mirus states that it offers leading levels of passenger living space and plenty of comfort.

Let's be real, though. This isn't a seat designed for your next transatlantic economy flight. This is an ultra-lightweight, ultra-dense seating solution for the ultra-low-cost carrier, capable of facilitating pitches as small as 28" without passengers really noticing.

While it might not be a crowd-pleaser on paper, the clever design touches bring together a robust, super-lightweight product that saves fuel and increases profitability. That, ultimately, is what means our short-haul getaways will stay cheap. For the passenger, Mirus claims a six-foot person can sit comfortably with decent knee and shin clearance, and despite not reclining, the 'pre-recline' angle means it's the perfect compromise of comfort and space.

The Kestrel is currently being certified for the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families, and will be available for delivery at the end of 2023.