Lufthansa plans to convert a total of 180 aircraft from the A319, A320, A321 and B737-300 ranges by the end of 2011. In just one year, approximately 32,000 of these new economy class seats will be installed in the European fleet, equipped with a new variant of fire-resistant felt BWF FireGuard®.
Thanks to the slim backrest and an ergonomically optimised seat form, passengers enjoy an average of more than 4cm extra legroom meaning more space and comfort. The weight reduction of about 30% in comparison to the previous seating was achieved by the usage of innovative high-tech materials. Completely new materials are used inside the backrest, allowing a very slim design. A further developed, lighter version of our high-tech fire-resistant felt BWF FireGuard also significantly contributes to weight reduction.
It is outstanding that our quality BWF FireGuard for the aircraft industry is up to 90% below the currently required aircraft standard limits. With the new version we continue to be well below the required limits and much safer than other competitive materials. Furthermore, another much lighter and mechanically stable type of needle felt is used, which allows lightweight construction and a new type of padding for the backrest.
Reduced weight means reduced fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions thus protecting the environment. Due to this, other partners of the ‘Star Alliance’ may well convert their European fleets to these new seats in the near future.
