US Airways has formaly announced it’s new seat from JPA called “The Cirrus”
In layout – it’s going to be in a 1-2-1 Reverse Herringbone layout (Reverse Herringbone.. haven’t I seen that position in a blue movie?). In IFE terms, it will have a variation of the Panasonic ExConnect system called eX2. Expect in that case 110v power, a USB port and even a 12.1″ Screen with AVOD.
In terms of seats, there will be a layout of 1 x 2 x 1 with a extended length of 6.4ft (in fully flat), 20 seats per cabin (down on 24), and will target US’s new Airbus A330-200’s with target completion of 2010.
However – at the end of the day – all this could be for nothing. Why?
It’s still US Airways.
And US Airways have a MAJOR image problem, least of all within Star Alliance members of “Airline of last resort”, and the very low cost image it projects onto users. Whilst there have been signs of small improvement, the Y class product leave a LOT to be desired in comparison even to United. That and onboard service – when good can be OK, when bad – it makes you wonder why you bothered to get on a plane an all.
For the rollout of these seats to work, the staff will need to be 1) trained and 2) for a business and even economy product, the staff need to be motivated to be delivered the product. From my previous experiences, that isn’t going to happen in a hurry.
Lets hope that the hard product that will be matched with the soft product that goes around it.
