Jamco’s Venture business class seat has found a launch customer in KLM, with the Dutch flag carrier ordering the seat model for the eight Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners joining its fleet from June 2019. As well as being the first airline to fly with the Venture seat, KLM will be the first European airline to take delivery of the Boeing 787-10.
About the Venture
Venture is a fully-flat seating option well suited to Dreamliner operators, as Jamco collaborated with Boeing and Teague to make sure the design complements the Boeing 787 Sky Interior in terms of style and form. The high-density herringbone design works with every available inch of the Dreamliner cabin and every curve of the sidewall to maximize comfort in its 1-2-1 configuration. The singles can also be installed across an airline’s narrow-body fleet, creating an interesting – if unlikely – option for KLM’s Boeing 737NG fleet.
A big selling point of Venture is its minimized parts count: it has some 30-40% fewer components than some competitor seats, according to Jeremy Hunter, senior program manager at Jamco America. A notable example of this minimal approach is the reduction in seams, which reduces seal maintenance and gives a clean appearance, particularly with the one-piece seatback shroud. The optional single actuator also adds simplicity and reduces maintenance.
Another interesting facet of the shroud – and indeed all other composite parts in Venture – is that they are made in-house at Jamco. The company buys in the materials from a third party, but they are then manufactured at Jamco facilities using proprietary processes. “We control our own density in the supply chain, so we can mitigate risk,” explained Hunter, adding that the in-house FAA ODA facility also helps.
According to KLM, the Venture (which weighs around 75kg) will be lighter than its predecessor seat, the Zodiac Cirrus, as fitted on the airline’s Boeing 787-9s. 38 World Business Class seats will be fitted on board the B787-10s, customized for KLM in cooperation with Dutch designer, Hella Jongerius.
