Thompson Aero Seating (TAS) today announces Delta Air Lines as the launch customer of it’s much anticipated VantageNOVA seating platform, a premium angled seat for twin-aisle aircraft and the newest addition to the highly successful Vantage seating family.

This comes ten years after the launch of the Delta One product, which showcased TAS’s VantageXL as the world’s first all-suite business class cabin with individual sliding doors that transformed the market and passenger expectations.

While the sought-after VantageNOVA is already known in the industry in its baseline form, a great deal of customisation – or as TAS refers to it ‘Deltafication’ – has gone into making this a truly standout offering that uniquely champions the Delta brand.

Reverse herringbone

One of the big selling points of the VantageNOVA is the flexibility it offers, including a choice of herringbone or reverse herringbone configuration on the outboard column. Delta has selected reverse herringbone for its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, so the outboard seats are angled towards the windows.

Comfort a priority

The seats, of course, lay flat providing a minimum bed of 80 inches and, excitingly, Delta has also opted for the zero-G positioning, where the seats tilt and lower the body while raising the legs to give the most relaxing position for the heart.

Large scale

Delta has gone big on space and amenities with the VantgaeNOVA. The overhung suite doors located to the outside of the suite maximise the space inside. The monitors are a massive 24”, the biggest Delta has on its business class seats, giving an amazing passenger experience.

Attention to detail

All of the VantageNOVA seats on Delta’s aircraft have a portable electronic device (PED) holder added to the tray table. There is also a wireless charging facility on top of each console and an integrated handbag hook underneath.

A stowage area for a water bottle is available beside the seat and a hook to keep eyeglasses at hand but safely out of the way. A second PCU has been thoughtfully positioned within easy reach in bed mode, which has been simplified to include just the bed setting requirements.

A suite entry light has been provided and a light onto the aisle. These, along with backlit seat numbers on top of door helps to ensure passengers can find their way back to their seat at night and that no unwelcome visitors appear by mistake! A horizon light on the back of the seat, tucked under the rail, gently accents the soft wall.

A new divider mechanism has been developed by TAS on the door of the suite. This has a premium soft-touch press-to-release system allowing a smooth opening or closure for the divider.

“We showed Delta the baseline seat and all the elements where we thought they might consider making customisations to tailor the seating to the precise needs of their passenger demographics. Delta of course opted for all the most technical and ambitious adaptationsbut we love a challenge at TAS!” said Barry McKay, Programme Manager at Thompson Aero Seating.

Accessibility considerations

Delta is well known for its considerations for passengers with reduced mobility. With accessibility in mind, the passenger control unit (PCU) is designed with a tactile button. This innovation, more often found in luxury automotive settings, is designed to mimic the shape of the seat itself to make it intuitive to use. This design language allows passengers to "feel" what they are adjusting without looking down. Likewise, the front row monuments (FRMs) have been carefully reconfigured to allow greater space for service animals.

Thoughtful stowage

Delta’s stowage requirements have been met by TAS with well-positioned and aesthetically pleasing design and engineering. Red accents highlight the stowage areas with built-in lighting. There is a stowage area at the front of the suites for a tablet or laptop and further stowage for all the accompaniments to airline travel. The shoe stowage requested by Delta provided a challenge for the team at TAS as a little re-engineering was required to turn the sealed area under the dropping seat arm into an open area with strengthened sides.

Luxury and elegance

The trim and finish include red accents for a touch of flair. These compliment the dark blues, charcoals, and steely greys, all specified by Factorydesign. The overall feeling is of luxury and elegance, with the console finished in polystone, offering the look and feel of real marble.

The TAS and Delta partnership

The teams at TAS and Delta have worked very much in collaboration on the new VantageNOVA seats for Delta’s Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.

Jonny McGreevy, Chief Technical Officer at Thompson Aero Seating, said: “Delta rightly wanted to push the boundaries in terms of the passenger experience. We worked as a team to ensure that Delta were able to make the choices they wanted but under guidance from TAS as to what was feasible.”

This is a collaboration that has been ongoing for many years, with some of the engineers working on the VantageNOVA seat for Delta today having also worked on the forward-facing VantageXL seat for Delta that won the prestigious Crystal Cabin Award at AIX in 2017. TAS has so far delivered 39 ship sets of this particular seat, comprising 1,100 seats in total.

The VantageNOVA seats for Delta are currently undergoing the final product design review and will then be on their way to Toulouse for technical approval.

Andy Morris, Chief Commercial Officer at Thompson Aero Seating said: “We are so pleased with how the VantageNOVA seats look in the Delta customisation. We have a great and long-standing relationship with Delta and we are very excited to once again be delivering what will surely be award-winning and standard-setting seats.”

Find out more at https://news.delta.com/suite-spot