Virgin Australia has today unveiled its new interior design prototype in a video on TikTok, featuring a refreshed seat experience which the airline says will initially be trialled on two of the airline’s nine new Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Mirroring the configuration of Virgin Australia’s existing Boeing 737-800 fleet interior, eight new Business Class and 162 Economy seats have been fitted with a distinctive new horizontal rib design, providing guests added support and comfort when they fly.
The famous purple LED interior lighting has returned in a nod to Virgin Australia’s existing signature design elements. An embossed leaf pattern design, which is evident in most of the airline’s airport lounges, has been pressed into the Economy headrests.
“We are excited to unveil our new interior prototype, which we are going to trial over the next few months,” said Virgin Australia Group Chief Customer and Digital Officer Paul Jones.
“We can’t wait for guests to experience the new interior for themselves if they’re lucky enough to fly on either of the two aircraft that have initially been fitted with the new design.
Ok, so maybe it’s not quite the Jetson styled airline seat of the future you might have imagined, but this refresh is all about the subtle design details.
New Business Class features
The new Business Class seats feature an extra recline of seven inches, up to 40 per cent more than current Business Class seats, as well as a customisable leg and footrests for additional comfort while travelling.
Along with enhanced seating features, the airline has fitted the prototype cabin with self-deployable, non-slip cocktail tables, perfect for pre-departure bubbles, and movable tray tables with in-built device holders – to help maximise space and usability during meal service.
There are also additional in-seat storage cubbies for personal items, including a high-powered USB charging port.
New Economy features
In what is a first for Virgin Australia, the airline’s Economy cabin seating features a seatback device holder, accommodating everything from a miniature smartphone to a larger tablet, making using personal devices for entertainment in the air easier.
Another noticeable feature is the upper safety card and menu stowage, freeing up seat pocket space to safely store personal stuff.
Guests who upgrade to Economy X will still enjoy stretching out with 40 per cent extra legroom.
“We’re looking forward to seeing how the new design will influence our fleet moving forward as we continue to expand our fleet and network as the market recovers,” said Jones.
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