TAP Portugal today announced plans with Airbus to refit their cabins, as well as sharing seat upgrade plans.
Trey Urbhan (TAP) and Xavier Bertran (Airbus)
TAP are planning to roll out a three cabin offering in regional and international service – as well a trying to compete against the EasyJets and Ryanairs of the aviation world.
So get ready – because TAP is planning to increase the density of their aircraft… A lot.
The plan calls for:
- Eurobusiness cabin configured in 3-3 with a table in the middle seats, pitched at 33″
- An Economy Plus product featuring 3-3, pitched at 33″
- A basic economy seat pitched at 28″ with no recline (or pre-reclined)
This will densify the products substantially:
- A319s go from 122 seats to 144 seats
- A320s go from 162 seats to 174 seats
- A321s go from 200 seats to 216 seats
TAP estimate that 60% of the plane (behind the wing) will use the non-recline seat, whilst 40% of the plane will use the other seat.
In terms of actual seats, TAP will use Recaro’s BL3530 (for the premium economy and business product), and the SL3510 for the non-reclineable seat.
Airbus and TAP Portugal will begin the process in September 2016, with a target completion of the narrow-body fleet by 2017.
Looking to the A330 refit – as revealed earlier – TAP will be using Thomson Advantage seats for their business class products.
23 out 25 of these seats will have direct aisle access, whilst economy seats will have an economy plus section that will be pitched at 34 inches.
Finally, TAP hinted at plans for their new A321neo’s with extra fuel tanks, and A321LR aircraft, with plans to introduce flat-bed seating on both of these. With this, TAP can use narrow-body aircraft for long haul missions (akin to how Aer Lingus operate their 757 fleet).
Trey Urbhan said that TAP would be looking to install a lie-flat product these new A321/A321LR – with the A321LR being able to serve destinations other than New York – bringing places like Toronto into contention.
TAP is hoping for delivery of the A321neo’s with extra fuel tanks in 2018, and the A321LRs in 2020.
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