Aircraft Interiors

COMAC Selects Expliseat for ARJ21 Economy Seats

October 19, 2020 | Written by Paul Sillers

TiSeats are already certified for a variety of aircraft types, including the COMAC ARJ21, Airbus A320, Boeing 737, ATR, De Havilland Dash 8 and Dassault Falcon Jets, and are in service on over 15 airlines worldwide.

An ultra-lightweight seat designed by Paris-based manufacturer Expliseat has been selected as the basis for a new family of economy-class seats for the ARJ21, the 78-to-90 seat regional airliner manufactured by Chinese state-owned aerospace company COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd.).

The new family of seats will be developed using Expliseat’s patented modular TiSeat E2 platform, which uses a combination of carbon fiber composite and titanium to produce cabin seating which, says the manufacturer, is 40% lighter than that of its competitors, as well as being the world’s lightest reclining passenger seat.

For context, an Airbus A320 equipped with the TiSeat E2 seats can save 400 tons of CO2 per year, according to Expliseat.

30 ARJ21 jets are currently in service with six Chinese airlines that operate mainly domestic routes. Through the adoption of Expliseat’s new seat, COMAC customers will have the opportunity to increase revenues by carrying more passengers or cargo and/or increase the range of the aircraft — a boon in China’s competitive regional market.

The selection of the TiSeat E2 marks the first time a composite seat will be installed on a COMAC aircraft, signifying a major advance for Expliseat’s corporate development, and the realization of its aspirations in China.

“It is an honor to be selected by COMAC, they will benefit from all the advantages offered by our cutting-edge technology. It will help ARJ21 customers maximize profits and revenues, leveraging carbon footprint reduction due to fuel bill or maintenance cost drop and increased life cycle,” said Expliseat CEO, Benjamin Saada. “Passengers will also benefit from the most advanced comfort feature in terms of recline and ergonomy. We look forward to a bright future in China with COMAC.”