Project Name: Optima Elite

Date Completed: 2020

Interior Designer: Arthur Glain, Rachel James, Oscar Ruiz and Acumen Design Associates

Completion Centre: Safran Seats GB

Associated Companies: Acumen Design Associates

Optima Elite is an enhanced business class seat that provides a first-class product offering inside a business class cabin.

In business class cabins, the front row of seats usually requires the installation of an additional row of non-working seats, called front row monuments. These monuments are needed to provide features that would otherwise be missing in the seat, such as a video monitor, an ottoman to complete the bed, and a meal table. These front row monuments have a high cost for airlines but they don’t generate any revenue as they cannot be used to accommodate passengers.

The concept of Optima Elite is to reuse the existing front row of Optima business class seats, known for their high density and passenger experience, and through the installation of a custom front row monument, create a new class offering that is closer to a first class product. This front row is then clearly differentiated as an enhanced product offer that enables airlines to provide an improved passenger experience and generate extra revenue, while not affecting cabin density to ensure the passenger count of the business class cabin is maintained.

Minimal modifications of existing Optima business class seats were made to allow for first class amenities to be integrated, such as a larger monitor, a large single piece meal table, an open foot well, additional storage space and mood lighting. Optima Elite repurposes valuable real estate within the business class cabin to provide airlines an enhanced product offering that enables new revenue opportunities.

Current airline trends show that first class cabins are disappearing, being replaced by ever improving business class cabins. Safran Seats provides airlines the opportunity to offer a first class product experience without the cabin density drawback on any of its business class product offer: Optima, Skylounge Core, Versa, Vue, Unity…