More from the show floor at Aircraft Interiors Expo – this time with Avio Interiors launching a new Premium Economy seat – the C4 Columbus.
So what do we have here? In this demonstration unit – it’s a 3 across seat designed for the Premium Economy market. With a suggested seat pitch of 38″, they recline 10″ to a rather impressive recline.
The seats are fitted with memory foam as standard – making them rather comfortable. The seats can be fitted with either 10.1″ IFE units or 12″ units.
However there’s something of interest to Economy Class and Beyond readers – and that’s something to hold your mobile device with. Whilst I do have a habit of using sickbags based IFE holders – they’re not ideal in any sphere.
Avio Interiors therefore have integrated a rather clever holder in which can hold tablets and mobile phone (which feature on both the C4 and other economy seats in their range – it’s a little flip-up device that is integrated into the tray, which can support either a smartphone or a tablet.
In the closed position
With a smartphone installed
With a 10″ Lenovo tablet installed into the unit
And to show the space, a tablet installed in one seat, and another seat with a MacBook 12″ on it.
I am a sucker for good, intelligent designs – the whole point of when I do sick-bag based IFE systems is to not have my hands holding the device, whilst maximising space. The simple flip-up of the Personal Electronic Device holder is surprisingly simple, and clever to integrate – whilst minimising the amount of moving parts so maintenance of the table will be easy.
Currently, Avio Interiors have no customer flying their new Premium Economy seat – but it might have some serious interest with prices starting as low as $5000 per seat.
Compared to some seats in the marketplace, this is very good value.
Economy Class and Beyond is at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2016 this week, bringing you news and views from the floor of the show – looking at the latest in Passenger Experience hardware, Wireless Connectivity and the little things that some may be interested in.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond – Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, with in-depth coverage, unique research as well as the humour and madness as I only know how to deliver.
Follow me on Twitter at @EconomyBeyond for the latest updates! You can also follow me on Instagram too!
How wide is that seat? Given the armrest size, it looks like a standard economy seat on a 9 abreast 777 or 8 abreast 787. Compare it to the upcoming AA prem eco seat and you can see this one is clearly inferior on seat and armrest width.
Looking at the size of the armrests, it seems more like a regular economy seat to me. I wouldn’t want to pay a premium economy fare to sit in a seat like that.