On 29 November, 2021 Taiwan-based China Airlines (CAL) took delivery of the first of its 25 A321neo aircraft on order, which has now been fitted out and is due to enter into service shortly. The aircraft has been configured with 180 seats: 168 in economy class and 12 in Premium Business Class, the latter being a highly customised version of the narrowbody version of Stelia Aerospace’s Equinox business class seat.
The Equinox seat will include many features specifically designed for China Airlines (with additional input from JPA Design), including a 180° fully flat bed with an enlarged width of 22.5in; retractable privacy screens between the seats; a personal storage area under the 15.6in 4K IFE display screen, with a door that also serves as a small cocktail table; a new LED control panel for electrically adjusting the seat; an inductive charging pad for mobile devices; and a special mood lighting programme that projects around each passenger’s head, enhancing comfort at night and aiding sleep.
The A321neo is also fitted with Airbus Cabin Flex, which has enabled the airline to relocate various fixtures and fittings to make optimal use of cabin space. One such element is the full-height front row monument, also created with Stelia Aerospace, which has been tailored for China Airlines to optimise storage space and cabin seat count, as well as providing a welcoming and branded boarding zone.
You can take a video tour of the A321 cabins at the link below.
China Airlines is also introducing smart link support on the A321neo, which allows all passengers to connect to the IFE system via their personal devices and Bluetooth headphones. Other interesting features include contactless, sensor-activated taps in the lavatory to reduce the risk of cross-infection.
The A321neo fleet will be progressively introduced on Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and cross-strait routes in response to demand in the travel and cargo market, strengthening China Airlines’ position in the regional market.
“I am very proud to have worked with China Airlines to develop this brand new and highly customised Equinox premium business class seat for their A321neo. This seat will no doubt contribute widely to passenger comfort on regional routes,” said Thierry Kanengieser, VP of cabin interiors at Stelia Aerospace.
