South Korean low cost carrier T’way Air recently rebranded as Trinity Airways. With Korean Air and Asiana merging, the airline is increasingly launching long haul flights to compete with the airline group, and offer a lower fare alternative.
Along those lines, the airline will soon start taking delivery of Airbus A330-900neos. Ahead of that, the company has unveiled the new business class product it will introduce on these planes, which strikes me as being the world’s most basic flat bed business class (thanks to S_LEE for flagging this).
In this post:
Trinity Airways introduces Optimares SoFab business class seats
Trinity Airways will soon take delivery of its first of five Airbus A330-900neos, which the airline will use for its expansion. The airline plans to equip these planes in a two-cabin layout, with a total of 336 seats. This includes 12 business class seats and 324 economy seats.
What’s fascinating is the business class product the airline opted for. Trinity Airways is the launch customer for the Optimares SoFab seat, which is quite something. The good news is that the seat is fully flat. The bad news is that the seat doesn’t actually have any recline, and Trinity Airways also isn’t installing any seat back entertainment.
Below you can see a video about the seating concept (this is promoting the seat as such, while Trinity Airways obviously customized it with its finishes, etc.).
I would imagine that this is a very efficient seat for the airline, in terms of the cost of the seat as such, its weight, and its ongoing maintenance costs. By eliminating all the electrical systems in the seat, it reduces the weight, and also makes maintenance much easier.
For context, Trinity Airways’ wide body fleet otherwise consists of some Airbus A330-300s with angled flat seats in business class, along with some ex-Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ERs with reverse herringbone seats in business class (these are simply inherited interiors, like what you’ll find on Turkmenistan Airlines).
This is somewhere between Finnair and ZIPAIR
This new cabin feels like a hybrid between the premium products of Finnair and ZIPAIR, in terms of having something comparable to the seat on Finnair, and the entertainment situation on ZIPAIR.
Finnair has the Collins Aerospace AirLounge seat, which is also a non-reclining flat bed. As much as that concept might sound unpleasant, I actually think it’s pretty innovative and don’t mind it, assuming the bedding is decent enough (so that you can position yourself correctly and get support for situations where you don’t want to sleep).
Up until now, I’ve argued that ZIPAIR has the world’s most basic flat bed business class. I mean, I guess technically it’s not even business class, as the airline just markets it as “Full Flat.” However, the idea is that the airline has reverse herringbone seats produced by JAMCO, with no seat back entertainment.
To be clear, while I’m labeling Trinity Airways’ new cabins as the most basic flat bed business class out there, that’s not to say it’s the worst. At least the seats all offer direct aisle access, so I’d take this over most products that don’t offer that. Or at least that’s what I think — I can’t say so definitively, since I haven’t actually flown this product yet.
Bottom line
T’way Air is now Trinity Airways, and coinciding with that, the airline has unveiled its new business class for the Airbus A330-900neo fleet. The airline will offer a unique product, as it’ll be the launch customer for the Optimares SoFab seat. This is a fully flat seat that doesn’t recline, and Trinity Airways also elected not to offer seat back entertainment.
I must say, I’m mighty curious to try this seat, so once the airline takes delivery of the plane, I’ll be planning a Trinity Airways trip!
What do you make of Trinity Airways’ new business class?
I generally avoid the Finnair seat when possible. It's fine for sleeping (night flights) but inferior for semi-recombinant positions like reading, relaxing, etc.
I don't hate this at all! I've flown the Finnair seat and it was lovely; a bit like having a nice big couch you can curl up or stretch out in.
As for the (lack of) seat-back entertainment, for me it's not a huge deal. When seat-back TVs started appearing on planes things were very different – the only entertainment you could realistically have with you would be a book, magazine, Game Boy or Walkman. But...
I don't hate this at all! I've flown the Finnair seat and it was lovely; a bit like having a nice big couch you can curl up or stretch out in.
As for the (lack of) seat-back entertainment, for me it's not a huge deal. When seat-back TVs started appearing on planes things were very different – the only entertainment you could realistically have with you would be a book, magazine, Game Boy or Walkman. But now you can get a tablet that does all of the above for $100 (for a low end one).
Something that'd be interesting to see would be an airline eschew the seat-back TVs but have seats that you can clip a tablet to the back of. They could offer tablets when asked, connected to Wi-Fi for you to stream their entertainment, or you could clip your own in if you'd prefer that.
A seat with low maintenance. Great for AA!
I love Finnairs air lounge. It does a great job at semi reclining when under your blanket watching TV or just dozing during breakfast.
I've always said 1) we're going to see more of the Finnair style seat due to weight savings, and 2) eventually premium economy will be lie-flat.
I won't be surprised, if this is where Premium Economy is for most airlines, in the next few years or so.
A stationary seat without all the bells&whistles of real Business, but that you can still lay down in.
You can certainly include an Air Premia flight while you're at it!
Whenever we talk about Finnair's new business class and now this - the amount of people who are so aghast at no recline! Am I the only one who does not have reclining furniture in their living room? I like the concept - similar to your couch you can find a position that works for you.
However, I am not endorsing these seats on a plane. My first thought has always been - I am...
Whenever we talk about Finnair's new business class and now this - the amount of people who are so aghast at no recline! Am I the only one who does not have reclining furniture in their living room? I like the concept - similar to your couch you can find a position that works for you.
However, I am not endorsing these seats on a plane. My first thought has always been - I am about to put my head where a bunch of other people's butts have been... We all know how your body produces certain things with the change in altitude.
With the right bedding and mattress pads okay... In this case - no thank you!
Looks awful
I can't imagine how this (or Finnair) seat can be comfortable for a longish daytime flight. 8-11 hour redeye - sure, just go to sleep. But a daytime flight going north/south/west? No, thanks. I would prefer something with a deep recline and a place to put up my feet. Seatback or armrest of the seat in front of you don't count, for the fans of the dearly departed Spirit.
I have flow the Zip Air "business class" seats and have no issues with them particularly when I pay $2k USD for a lay flat seat.
I don't care about seat back entertainment anyway, especially if I plan to just sleep through most of the flight.
Perfect design IMO. When I board, I do not even eat meal, I recline and try to sleep for 8 hours+ . No wifi, no movies, no amenity kit, no meals, nothing but time away to move from one city to another. I believe this is amazing even if it were more money.
These seats were probably designed by Finnair
I love your username.
Is there in-seat power at least? TransPac is a long flight on an iPad battery, and airlines are increasingly cracking down on using power banks in flight.
Agreed. In a TPAC, I am okay with no entertainment if I get a comfortable seat and in seat power. Also, will this be substantially cheaper than other options? If I am paying the same price, I'm picking the seat with recline and entertainment. If its considerably cheaper, I would consider this.
This will be an interesting test for the Flat Bed Or Nothing crowd here. How much are you willing to give up for a flat bed?
This will be all about the bedding. Based on the video it looks as if there are decent sized gaps which may prove uncomfortable without a good mattress pad. Also there is a lack of cushions visible in the cabin photo, again an essential element for such a seat.
Would not be opposed to trying it, especially if the price is right.
If the price is right, I’ll buy myself a nice iPad or iPhone Duo and load it up before the flight. I love the trend of low cost carriers getting into the flat bed game. You can keep your caviar and champagne. Just give me a place to lie down!
This looks like a pretty brilliant design. Assuming it’s comfortable, if you can design a seat without the complexity, weight, and maintenance headaches of motors and actuators, what’s the downside? Plus all that stuff takes up a lot of space that could now be usable.
One of the drawbacks of most standard lie flats is if I want to get my shoes or my charging cable (etc), it’s 20 seconds of holding down a button to get the seat up.
As others have noted, entirely depends on the execution – the seat and an of itself actually looks pretty appealing, and the idea of an affordable flatbed (and presumably BYOD entertainment) on the longer flights that they operate is pretty appealing… sort of wish AS had pursued the strategy in the US to better compete in the transcontinental market with the differentiated product/price point relative to the other majors).
Honestly if the pricing matches the lack of bells and whistles, I think it's a great idea! For a lot of people, the most important parts of a business class seat is the ability to lie down, and having a fair amount of space for yourself without someone reclining on you, etc. I'd totally be down to bring my own entertainment or even food if it's significantly cheaper than regular business class on other airlines.
Agreed. Usually lie-flat products on LCC are priced comparably to premium economy on a legacy carrier, and given the choice, I would take the lie-flat seat any day for long haul.
Finnair's version is great, so this looks quite interesting to me - if it's executed as well!
I wonder if they'll strategically regret not installing more of these in the future. 12 seems like way too little, even if they're an LCC.
The trend seems to only be increasing more premium seating over time. I'd say 20+ would be the right amount here.
No entertainment on a long-haul? Buckle up liver, there's work to do
Expecting liver to work on a LCC long haul?
Buckle up wallet, there's drinks to paid.
The biggest difference with ZIPAIR is that they have WiFi – no WiFi, no entertainment is going to be a recipe for a very long 14h flight to BCN or FCO. (Edit: upon investigation it seems like they are planning on introducing WiFi, as well as an ICN lounge.)
Their economy class seats also look strangely similar to Ryanair's newer stock.
"Trinity Airways" sounds like they should have their fortress hub in Vatican City.
It remains to be seen if it offers the same comfort like the Finnair seat, which is great. The lack of a screen is really irrelevant for me, I have not watched a movie on a plane for at least 20 years.
Those Finnair seats (AirLounge by Collins Aerospace) really are 'love it or hate it' aren't they? While you seem to 'love' them, I gotta say, it just didn't 'do it' for me. Much preferred their regular lie-flat (Cirrus III by Zodiac on some of their a350, or Vantage by Thompson on some of their a330).
I actually like the seat a lot. As mentioned, the general layout is quite similar to Finnair's business class seat and I don't mind the missing entertainment screen. I usually bring my own entertainment. Of course, the missing flight map will be an issue for some. Offered at the correct price, I would book it.
Reminds me of the bare bones Air Asia X A330 business class. now that was a fun ride! everything was an add on, even basic food!
Much prefer 'premium' seats that partially recline on the way to lie-flat (like most lie-flat; the Zip Air example, even if it doesn't have IFE/AVOD screens), over what Finnair (and now Trinity) has. Even SQ's older J has that 'fold down' to lie-flat.
Yes finally someone who can properly articulate SQ J seat as "fold" rather than "flip".
I'd say, anything less than 180 degrees is a fold (and those SQ J aren't going more than 100 degrees); whereas, anything greater than 180 degrees is a flip. Purists will require 360 for a flip. Bah!