Seating: Latest innovations

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Take your seats

Satisfying customers and improving sustainability were factors behind Spirit Airlines' choice of the HAECO seating that will be fitted in aircraft. Stuart Forster learns more

Spirit Airlines plans to take delivery of 33 new aircraft from the Airbus A320 family during 2023. They will be fitted with HAECO Vector Light and Vector Premium seating.

Making that seats selection started with a seats show. "We invited a number of different vendors to bring their products, then we took a look at all of them," explained Lania Rittenhouse, the Vice President of Guest Experience, Brand and Communications at Spirit Airlines.

“Then we started iterating additional improvements in the seat, unlocking every possible way to reduce the weight of this seat, for additional sustainability, to increase the usable space for the guest, and to increase the comfort. Those are the three main goals and I think we've hit the nail on the head," she added.

The majority of the ultra-low-cost carrier’s routes are within the USA. Some are in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In 2019 the airline began rolling out Acro Series 6 and Acro Series 3 seating across its fleet. “It gave us an incredible increase in guest satisfaction" recalls Rittenhouse.

Thinking big

A key feature of the airline is its Big Front Seats, which offer additional space and comfort compared to seating elsewhere in the cabin. The introduction of HAECO’s Vector Premium seating as Big Front Seats is intended to add comfort and provide greater privacy. "What we've done is broaden out the shoulder space, so everybody has a bit more comfort when you're sitting back in the seat," explained Rittenhouse.

Notably, the headrest has been expanded and passengers no longer need to disturb the person sitting next to them to open up the console and pull up the foldable tray. The tray has been expanded.

Economy seating

"To us, sustainability is huge. We are already one of the most fuel-efficient airlines in the country today. But we don't want to rest on our laurels. Between our new NEO engines, which also save about 15% more fuel, the weight of the seat is incredibly impactful to us," said Rittenhouse.

Introducing the Vector Light means a weight saving of approximately 11 ounces per seat. For the airline that translates into significant annual fuel and cost savings. "It adds to our sustainability efforts as well. Every little bit that we can save – whether it's in better materials, working with more composites, lighter weight materials, more durable materials – is something that we try to do every time we're thinking about improvements in the product," explained the VP.

Forged aluminium used to make the spreaders and seat legs saves weight and is durable. Cast

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titanium in the armrests also helps save weight and the Vector Light seats feature an ergonomic, carbon fibre seatback.

The seats will have a minimum 28-inch pitch, which is typically measured from seatback to seatback. Rittenhouse took issue with that, explaining, "I don't particularly like the term ‘pitch’ because we believe that 'usable space' is a much better term for what our guests are able to experience."

Space and comfort

The seats are deeper than their predecessors and headrests have been added to Economy seats. Additional padding in the seat promises extra comfort. The curvature of HAECO Vector Light seats means that they provide more effective legroom than flat-backed alternatives. "We were able to unlock an extra two inches of space there for additional comfort," she added.

In terms of width, there will be an additional half-inch of space in each of the seats. The aisle and window seats will measure 17.5 inches across while the middle seats will be 18.5 inches broad. "When we're developing a seat, we're developing it for the Spirit business model and we're developing it for Spirit guests. Our guests are incredibly price-sensitive, they want to have the best possible value that they can get…we are constantly trying to find ways to pack additional value into the purchase proposition," said Rittenhouse.

Maintaining the space in the aisles was also a factor behind Spirit’s decision to order HAECO seating. Aisle space is key to getting people and luggage on and off quickly. A cantered leg design means that the seats can be moved an inch and a half closer to the aircraft wall. "As an ultralow-cost carrier that's very high utilisation, we have to turn the aircraft very quickly," explained Rittenhouse. •

Opposite: Stitching on Spirit Airways' new Economy seating. Above: Spirit's new HAECO-made Big Front Seats.