- Luxury seating options at Swiss Airlines deemed excessively weighty
In the future, Swiss, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, is planning to introduce new first-class seats starting from 2025. However, these heavy-duty seats might pose a problem of balance for certain aircraft. To rectify this, lead plates will be installed for correcting the center of gravity.
According to Meike Fuhlrott, a spokesperson for Swiss, there's an increasing demand for privacy in first and business class cabins. This demand is resulting in heavier seats, while those in economy class are becoming lighter. This shift in weight distribution affects the aircraft's center of gravity. Lead plates will be used to restore balance, specifically on Airbus A333 aircraft. The initial report was made by newspapers under the "CH Media" media house.
When seats are ordered, an approximate weight is provided initially, revealed Fuhlrott. The actual weight is only ascertained once all components are installed.
The additional weight generally leads to higher fuel consumption in aircraft. It's a delicate task to balance customer requirements, economic feasibility, and environmental sustainability, stated the spokesperson. Swiss aims to provide luxurious suites in first class for long-haul flights in the future, offering absolute privacy to passengers.
In addressing the issue of heavier first-class seats, Fuhlrott mentioned that Swiss is exploring options in transport and telecommunications, potentially using advanced technologies to reduce weight while maintaining comfort. Furthermore, she mentioned the need for a comprehensive review of the aircraft's overall design to accommodate these changes in terms of transport and telecommunications infrastructure.
