FIA 2026: Expliseat Products Now Available to CRJ Operators via MHIRJ Partnership
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MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHI RJ) has added Expliseat’s next-generation lightweight seating solutions to its CRJ aftermarket portfolio, reflecting the MRO’s commitment to the long-term fleet modernization of the wide-body jet family.
Announced at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow (FIA), a new strategic collaboration sees Expliseat become a seating supplier for the CRJ platform, expanding the range of cabin solutions supported by MHI RJ.
“This collaboration allows Expliseat to expand its footprint across one of the world’s most widely operated regional jet platforms”
Expliseat estimates the installation of its composite seating technology on a CRJ aircraft could save over 1,000 lbs in weight.
The company’s VP Strategy and Marketing Antonio Ficca elaborated, “The 1,000 lb weight saving is based on a typical CRJ700 cabin configuration, comparing a standard US LOPA equipped with older-generation seats to an Expliseat installation […] On a typical European CRJ900 configuration, the weight saving can reach up to 1,200 lb, illustrating the significant efficiency gains operators can achieve.”
Weight savings are achieved as a result of Expliseat’s carbon fiber and titanium seat architecture. Its solutions are already deployed across Embraer, ATR and Dash 8 aircraft that are being operated on regional networks worldwide to reduce weight while maintaining passenger comfort and operational reliability.
For example, Air Canada Jazz has installed Expliseat’s TiSeat 2 V product on its Dash 8-400s; Air Tahiti’s ATR 72 turboprops feature its TiSeat E2 solution; and more recently, Air France HOP! outfitted its E190s with the company’s newer TiSeat 2X.
“We are already engaged on the CRJ platform with a North American customer, and the program is currently underway. While we can’t disclose further details at this stage, it demonstrates that the platform is already gaining market traction,” Ficca shared.
“We are already engaged on the CRJ platform with a North American customer, and the program is currently underway.”
While CRJs are predominantly operated in North America, where Expliseat has an established market presence, Ficca confirmed it will also support European customers: “The certification approach is very similar between North America and Europe. Depending on the airline’s specific cabin layout, some adjustments may be required, but these are well within our engineering capabilities.”
He expects the TiSeat 2X will be the primary solution for most CRJ operators, as it is already a proven product and closely matches the seat specification developed for the platform, but noted that “operators looking to introduce a premium cabin can also integrate the TiSeat S at the front of the aircraft, depending on their cabin configuration and product strategy.”
In terms of the logistics of supporting new customers, Ficca explained, “Our production capacity allows us to immediately support CRJ customers. As the seat specification is very similar to the TiSeat 2X seats already flying today, only minimal engineering adaptation is required, allowing us to rapidly support new programs.”
Despite ongoing success in the US regional market, including the 2025 milestone of getting its TiSeat 2X family listed in Embraer’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalog for E1 and E2 aircraft, Expliseat harbors further strong growth ambitions in the segment. “This collaboration allows Expliseat to expand its footprint across one of the world’s most widely operated regional jet platforms [… and] supports our growth ambitions in the US regional market,” Ficca concluded.