Future travel Experience

All Nippon Airways has unveiled ‘THE Room FX’ in collaboration with Safran. This next-generation Business Class concept has a privacy door for each seat of the Boeing 787-9 aircraft for “the future of luxury flight”. All Nippon Airways (ANA) has unveiled ‘THE Room FX’ in collaboration with Safran – an exhibitor at APEX FTE Asia Expo (Singapore, 11-12 November 2025). This next-generation Business Class seat has a privacy door for each seat of the Boeing 787-9 aircraft – the world’s largest seat in its class on a mid-sized aircraft. ‘THE Room FX’ has been developed in partnership with aircraft seat manufacturer Safran Seats and British design company Acumen. It builds on the success and design principles of the larger Boeing 777-300ER ‘THE Room’ seat and aims to offer an unmatched customer experience. “ANA is dedicated to providing the highest level of customer experience and is investing in the future of the most advanced and comfortable travel with the new ‘THE Room FX’ seat,” said To...

Eurowings, the value airline of the Lufthansa Group, is launching a completely new business class experience for longer medium-haul routes – the ‘Premium BIZ seat’ – offering more comfort and privacy. Eurowings, the value airline of the Lufthansa Group, is launching a completely new business class experience for longer medium-haul routes this autumn: the ‘Premium BIZ seat’. Instead of the industry-standard seating with 2x3 economy seats per row, Eurowings will be installing premium business seats from Italian manufacturer Geven in its Airbus A320neo for the first time. With adjustable backrests, ergonomic design and generous upholstery in a 2x2 arrangement, they are designed to offer significantly more comfort and privacy than is usual in today’s medium-haul jets. The expanded Business Class offering will debut in November 2025, initially on the non-stop Berlin-Dubai route. The new seat concept will be bookable as of August via www.eurowings.com – as a higher-value option within the Eu...

Thai Airways and Recaro Aircraft Seating have announced a linefit collaboration for the airline’s A321neo fleet. The program includes 32 shipsets of the long-range R3 Economy Class seat for an elevated CX. Thai Airways and Recaro Aircraft Seating have announced a linefit collaboration for the airline’s A321neo fleet. The program includes 32 shipsets of the long-range R3 Economy Class seat, with the first shipset delivery scheduled in Q4 2025. Outfitted with a new trim and finish, the R3 showcases customised dress covers in a vibrant purple. The design reflects Thailand’s cultural richness and modern elegance through an intricate stitching pattern inspired by elements of the Thai Airways logo, creating a subtle tufting on the backrest. To incorporate additional motifs, the beige, 6-way adjustable headrest features the debossed signature THAI logo. Seat production is currently underway at the RECARO facility in Poland, featuring an in-house, cut-to-dress team responsible for the bespoke ...

United Airlines has unveiled the ‘United Elevated’ interior for its new Boeing 787-9 aircraft. This includes two new business class suites, an Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, Starlink connectivity and more. United Airlines – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has unveiled the ‘United Elevated’ interior for its new Boeing 787-9 aircraft. This will include two new business class suites, the greatest number of total premium seats in United’s fleet, an Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, Starlink connectivity and even larger 4K OLED seatback screens. The airline’s new United Polaris Studio suites are positioned in the first row of each business class section and total eight, lie-flat, all-aisle-access seats that are 25% larger than standard United Polaris with privacy doors, an extra ottoman seat for companions, exclusive entrée options, an Ossetra caviar amuse-bouche service, new amenity kits with luxury skincare offerings, wireless charging, Blu...

China Southern Airlines has selected RECARO Aircraft Seating’s latest R3 Economy Class seats for its new Airbus A350-900 fleet. This strategic partnership includes the installation of R3 seats across 10 aircraft. China Southern Airlines is the first airline customer in mainland China to select RECARO Aircraft Seating’s latest R3 Economy Class seats for its new Airbus A350-900 fleet. This strategic partnership includes the installation of R3 seats across 10 aircraft, scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2026. “For China Southern Airlines, comfort in our passengers’ travel experience is a top priority,” said Mr. Yongchao Zeng, Executive Vice President, China Southern Air Holding Company Limited. “We are proud to partner with RECARO who is renowned for its heritage of delivering highly ergonomic and comfortable seats.” China Southern Airlines’ selection of the R3 marks a significant milestone for RECARO and the mission of driving comfort in the sky. As the launch customer for th...

Etihad Airways aims to set a new standard for single-aisle flying with the debut of its all-new Airbus A321LR. The airline is striving to bring luxury and a true First Class experience to narrowbody aircraft. Etihad Airways aims to set a new standard for single-aisle flying with the debut of its all-new Airbus A321LR, with the goal of delivering widebody comfort on short and medium-haul routes. Etihad’s A321LR is said to “represent a leap forward in guest experience and innovation”, bringing luxury and a true First Class experience to narrowbody flying. “The A321LR is an amazing aircraft which proves our commitment to luxury, customer experience, and connectivity,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, Etihad Airways. “With our new First Suites, 14 lie-flat Business seats with direct-aisle access, and upgraded Economy, we’ve taken the luxury experience which we are famed for on our widebody fleet and adapted it to offer guests the same experience in a single-aisle aircraft – all while keeping th...

Emirates is continuing its retrofit program, with the introduction of refurbished A380s and 777s on several routes. The aircraft feature Emirates’ latest generation premium onboard experience. Emirates is introducing Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s with upgraded cabins to eight more cities on its network in the coming months. The airline will roll out its refreshed A380s to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Nice and Perth and its upgraded Boeing 777s to Madrid, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket and Frankfurt, as well as another refitted Boeing 777 service to Dublin. The airline’s retrofit program continues to advance at pace, with Emirates Engineering Centre teams working to complete full nose-to-tail makeovers at an average rate of one wide-body aircraft every three weeks. The airline will also receive its first long-range A350 later this year, which is set to make its debut in Australia with the introduction of flights to Adelaide from 1 December 2025. “The latest rollout of refurbished Airbus A380s and Boeing 77...

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new digitally-native airline, has unveiled its cabin interiors, which are designed to blend luxury and comfort to deliver “a unique and market-changing premium experience”. Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new digitally-native airline, has unveiled its cabin interiors. The ‘no legacy’ carrier has revealed its first cabin layouts, which are designed to blend luxury and comfort to deliver a unique and market-changing premium experience. Innovative technology integrated into elegant designs aims to set a new standard in comfort, convenience, and style. The use of colour and materials that reflect Saudi heritage are combined with a deep attention to detail alongside unique technology and amenities. “Riyadh Air has always promised to deliver a world-class experience for our guests and the unveiling of our cabin interiors make this ambition a reality,” said Tony Douglas, CEO, Riyadh Air. “The design, layout, and features of our new cabins are carefully crafted to ensure ...

Aer Lingus has partnered with RECARO to enhance passenger comfort with the inclusion of the R3 aircraft seat in its new A321XLR aircraft. The aim is to deliver “a seamless and relaxing journey for every customer”. Aer Lingus – a member of International Airlines Group (a Headline Partner of APEX  FTE EMEA  and APEX  FTE Ancillary & Retailing , Dublin, 10-12 June 2025, and a Corporate Partner of the  FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub ) – has partnered with RECARO Aircraft Seating to enhance passenger comfort with the inclusion of the R3 in its new A321XLR aircraft. Equipped with the R3 long-range Economy Class seat, passengers will have access to an enhanced living space and comfort features. These include a 6-way adjustable headrest with integrated neck support, and comfort cushions and arm rests. The seats are outfitted with customised Aer Lingus dress covers and shamrock insignia, and feature a composite backrest with integrated monitor and USB charging ports. Additionally...

Flag carrier TAAG Angola Airlines has selected Unum Aircraft Seating to be the Business Class seating supplier for its Boeing 787 aircraft, as part of its ongoing investment in enhancing passenger experience. Flag carrier TAAG Angola Airlines (TAAG) has selected Unum Aircraft Seating to be the Business Class seating supplier for its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The project is part of TAAG’s ongoing investment in enhancing passenger experience and fleet modernisation. “Introducing Unum One into our Business Class cabin gives us the tools to enhance comfort and quality for our passengers,” said Miguel Carneiro, Chief Commercial Officer, TAAG. “This upgrade aligns with our ongoing commitment to delivering a world-class travel experience.” The Unum One lie-flat seat chosen by TAAG features Unum’s patented Scimitar Seat mechanism, which is designed to offer exceptional comfort and infinite adjustability. Its simplicity and elegance of design, combined with a careful choice of materials, ...

All Nippon Airways is furthering its commitment to elevating CX, with RECARO’s new R3 Economy Class and R4 Premium Class seats designed specifically for its next-gen cabins on international routes. All Nippon Airways (ANA) and RECARO Aircraft Seating have unveiled their latest passenger comfort innovations. The new R3 Economy Class and R4 Premium Class seats are designed specifically for the next-generation cabins of ANA on international routes. The R4 Premium Class seats feature an increased seat pitch of approximately 40 inches and an enhanced recline of about two inches, providing greater relaxation and reduced fatigue on long-haul flights. Meanwhile, the R3 Economy Class seats offer increased living space and a generous seat pitch of around 33 to 34 inches, making them some of the most spacious Economy Class seats available and ensuring a more comfortable journey for passengers. In addition to premium comfort, the lightweight design of the seats helps decrease the aircraft’s total ...

Lufthansa is elevating the First Class experience with its new Allegris cabin interior available this summer on several routes from Munich Airport. It is also investing in exclusivity and comfort on the ground. The travel experience in Lufthansa First Class with the new cabin interior on long-haul flights is now even more exclusive. The Allegris First Class cabin can be experienced in the summer timetable on flights from Munich to San Francisco, Chicago, San Diego, Shanghai and Bengaluru. Travellers can additionally enjoy the new cabin product in Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class on flights to New York-Newark (from mid-April), and from the beginning of August, also to Charlotte. Since February, nine A350-900s with the new cabin interior have already been flying for Lufthansa, eight of them with the new First Class. Almost half a million passengers in all classes have now enjoyed the new cabin. This year, the retrofitting of the existing fleet with Lufthansa Allegris will comm...

Malaysia Airlines has announced an order for 18 Boeing 737-8 and 12 737-10 aircraft. The order will enable the airline “to deliver cutting-edge premium cabin offerings and state-of-the-art tech to customers”. Malaysia Aviation Group has announced an order for 18 Boeing 737-8 and 12 737-10 single-aisle jets to renew the Malaysia Airlines fleet. The order will enable the airline to introduce new lie-flat seats, as it further enhances the customer experience. “This is a significant investment for Malaysia Aviation Group, enabling us to deliver cutting-edge premium cabin offerings and state-of-the-art technology to our customers,” said Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director, Malaysia Aviation Group. “The addition of these new airplanes will not only enhance our fleet’s efficiency and increase seating capacity, but allow us to elevate the overall inflight experience, with our passengers’ needs at the forefront.” With more than 50 737 jets in Malaysia Airlines’ fleet, the introduction of addi...

Air France is reinventing the travel experience with the launch of its most exclusive cabin – La Première. Both at the airport and onboard, La Première guests will experience an exclusive and personalised CX. Air France is reinventing the onboard customer experience with the launch of its most exclusive cabin – La Première. Both at the airport and onboard, La Première guests will experience exclusive and personalised moments curated by dedicated La Première staff. APEX GCEO Dr. Joe Leader was in Paris for the grand unveiling of the next-generation La Première suite, where he joined Air France CEO Anne Rigail, SVP Customer Experience Fabien Pelous, Air France-KLM GCEO Benjamin Smith, and legendary aviation influencer Sam Chui, to experience this ground-breaking innovation first-hand. Developed over three years, Air France’s new La Première suite features a unique and fully adaptable design, consisting of a seat and a chaise longue that transform into a full bed. The seat adjusts to diff...

Emirates is expanding the rollout of its retrofitted Boeing 777s. The upgraded aircraft are designed to combine accessible luxury with comfort and feature the new Emirates 777 Business Class. Emirates is expanding the list of cities served with its refurbished Boeing 777s to Seoul starting on 14 April 2025 and London Stansted from 7 May 2025, as aircraft sporting upgraded cabins rollout of Emirates’ retrofit programme and into scheduled service. The retrofitted Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft features a four-class configuration, including Emirates’ signature Premium Economy cabins, which are designed to combine accessible luxury with comfort. The aircraft also features the new Emirates 777 Business Class, with seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration for maximum privacy, ensuring aisle access for every passenger, fully flat beds, and personal mini-bars. On some aircraft, First Class passengers can experience the exclusive ‘Gamechanger’ suites, offering unparalleled luxury, opulent comfort ...