Acro Aircraft Seating reports firm orders into Q4 2014 Launches 'tablet' table to meet customer demand.

Thursday 3rd April 2014

UK-based passenger aircraft seat manufacturer Acro Aircraft Seating returns to Aircraft Interiors Expo following a highly successful 2013 and a very promising start to 2014.  The company reports firm orders into the fourth quarter of 2014 with recent confirmed orders for the retrofitting of five Spirit Airlines' Airbus A319 aircraft with its Superlight seat this spring and installation on 25 new A321 and A320 deliveries from 2015. The deal which was worth an estimated £6M marks the company's second major US client and equates to 5000 economy class seats. With 35,000 seats currently flying, Acro Aircraft Seating anticipates that it will double the number of seats in service within 18 months.

Acro is launching its new 'tablet' table at Expo which features a smaller design than any other tray table on the market and uniquely, a 'latchless' latch designed to be simple, reliable and lightweight. Designed for low-cost carriers and selected by Spirit Airlines, its intention is to hold nothing more than a tablet computer and a drink. The simple design, low part count and robust styling fulfils the specific requirements needed by commercial carriers - and is a strategy that the company applies to every seat or table part it designs. Another of Acro's core principles is to ensure that its robust components can be replaced with simple hand tools within seconds. The 'tablet' table which is a line replaceable unit is no exception and it can be replaced within 60 seconds by removing only two fasteners.

Significantly Acro notes that the new tablet table reflects the growing trend for passengers to utilise their own own IFE hardware and entertainment system in flight. Cameron Allan, Commercial Director at Acro comments: "We think the trend towards passengers bringing their own IFE hardware on board warrants a need to consider the effectiveness of any table as a 'tablet support'. Our new smaller table is our first specific implementation of this, and we anticipate that this trend will continue and expand across all airlines."

The tablet table follows Acro's highly acclaimed Ultra In Arm Table (IAT) which was a Crystal Cabin Awards finalist at Aircraft Interiors Expo last year. It is self-cleaning, lightweight and line replaceable in less than 60 seconds and is now flying on more than 50 aircraft across four continents and with 10 airlines - a number the company expects to double by the end of 2014.

Another continuing trend which Acro has anticipated and is reflected in Acro's Ultra XC wider and lighter seat being showcased at Expo, is the tendency for passengers to be growing in stature. The seat, which boasts a width of 18.1 inches for window and aisle seats and a generous 19.3 inches for the middle seat offers passengers more 'personal' space, greater comfort and improved sleep especially on long haul flights. Acro has already begun equipping Airbus A320 aircraft with its Ultra XC wider and lighter economy class reclining seat from this quarter.

Acro developed the Ultra XC seat very much with its customers in mind "As people get larger, broader and taller, they still expect comfort so we have designed the seats with this in mind to ensure comfort - especially on long haul flights," Said Cameron Allan. "We are very excited to be working to supply a wider and more comfortable seat which will address the needs of passengers. When it comes to flying long haul in economy, an inch or so makes a huge difference."

This latest news follows an enormously successful 2013 for Acro with contract wins to supply 3000 seats to an undisclosed US carrier as well as to Braathens Regional for 13 Saab 340/2000 aircraft, South Africa's Mango Airlines for eight Boeing 737-800s and KLM Cityhopper for 26 Fokker F70s. "The market's in great shape. We had a strong 2013 and we're looking forward to building on this success in 2014." Concludes Allan.

Acro Aircraft Seating will be exhibiting at Aircraft Interiors Expo on Stand 5E25

About Acro Aircraft Seating:

Based in Redhill, Surrey, Acro believes that good design comes from the application of common sense, engineering rigour and practical experience of the service environment. The company designs, certifies and manufactures lightweight, robust and comfortable economy seats for regionals, legacy, low cost and traditional carriers. Acro's seat portfolio satisfies a wide range of aircraft types and different cabin class options and has the capability to produce 1,500 seats a month, which it anticipates will increase to 2000 a month by 2015.  At the end of 2013 Acro had some 35,000 seats flying (a number it expects to double over the next eighteen months) following installations on Thomas Cook, Mango, KLM City Hopper, and Aer Arann. Jet2.com (the launch customer in 2008) now has more than 50 aircraft with Acro seats.

www.acro.aero