Bangalore Aviation News, Reviews, Analysis and opinions of Indian Aviation
Related Articles
German carrier Lufthansa finally revealed its new full flat business class cabin which will be on its new Boeing 747-8i aircraft which are expected to be deployed on the New Delhi and Bangalore routes later this year, thus bringing to Bangalore, at least, the most modern business class cabin in the skies.
 |
| Click on any image for a high resolution view. |
The new business class seat boasts a horizontal sleeping surface measuring 1.98 metres in length. Unlike many carriers who offer a “lay-flat” seat which is inclined at about 10 degrees, Lufthansa’s seat converts into a full flat comfortable bed.
The seating is in an innovative “V” shape with two neighbouring seats angled towards one another, which almost doubles the distance between two neighbouring seats at shoulder level for greater privacy, yet allowing the carrier full optimum use of the cabin space, this allowing the airline to overcome a pet peeve of passengers – to sit or lie facing the direction of travel.
The cabin development commenced in 2007 when Lufthansa conducted a survey of more than 500 frequent flyers in order to find out their preferences and their requirements of a business class seat.
The airline then developed the seat with well-known ergonomics experts, designers and seat manufacturers which was finally trialled for eight weeks in 2010 on the Frankfurt-New York route.
New business class highlights
- A horizontal sleeping surface measuring 1.98 metres in length
- Ergonomically improved cushioning ensures a high degree of comfort in a sitting or horizontal position
- More space at shoulder level when lying down thanks to lowerable armrests and a special hollow in the central console
- Generous surfaces to put things on and additional storage compartments on the seat itself
- No need to stand up: ergonomically optimised, continuous seat-adjustment mechanism when converting the seat into a bed and when making individual adjustments to the seat position
- Inflight entertainment system with larger monitors (15-inch screens as opposed to the previous 10.4-inch screens)
- Greater distance from the neighbouring seat at shoulder level provides more privacy in the Boeing B747-8
For more information visit the dedicated website.
With the Indian civil aviation authorities sitting on Lufthansa’s request to fly the Airbus A380 to India, it appears that the carrier has done the smart move and will deploy the new 747-8i on its New Delhi and Bangalore to Frankfurt routes from later this year.
The bi-lateral agreement between India and Germany is fairly liberal and allows for “747” operations without specifying a variant, hence the carrier will not need any permission from Indian civil aviation authorities to operate the new aircraft.
Lufthansa has always occupied a position of prestige at Bangalore. Despite its Boeing 747-400 fleet which does not have most modern of cabins, it is a preferred carrier. (See infographic). The new cabin will definitely catapult the fortunes of the carrier even higher.
Images courtesy and copyright Deutsche Lufthansa
