Seat Retrofit For Jazeera Airways Designed To Save Fuel, Space

HAMBURG—A seating retrofit program at Jazeera Airways will allow the Kuwaiti LCC to fit an extra row of seats in its aircraft.

French seat designer and manufacturer Expliseat will provide the airline with more than 2,000 of its new TiSeat E2 second-generation model seats, with deliveries starting in the 2024 first quarter, the company’s CEO Amaury Barberot told Aviation Daily at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg.

The retrofit will take place on 11 Jazeera aircraft—a mix of Airbus A320ceo and neo models, as well as a number of A321s. The refit will take place at a yet-to-be-decided maintenance, repair and overhaul provider. Jazeera is the Middle East launch customer for the new design.

The new seats, which weigh 6.8 kg (15 lb.) each, will save Jazeera around 1.2 tons per aircraft.

“The interesting part is the way they will use the weight saving,” Barberot says. The additional row will allow Jazeera to carry six extra passengers, which will account for 600 kg, or around half, of the weight saving. The new seats will feature a USB in-seat power system that will add a further 100 kg per aircraft. The remaining 500 kg saving will allow Jazeera’s aircraft to carry less fuel and thus have fewer emissions—or to take additional fuel for more range. Jazeera is increasingly branching out from its Gulf hub to more distant destinations, such as Central Asia.

However, Barberot said his understanding is that Jazeera will initially focus on using the 500 kg saving to allow them to take on less fuel. The lighter weight is forecast to save Jazeera up to 110,000 gal. of fuel a year.

Despite the TiSeat E2’s light weight, “it is not a ‘slim seat’ where we had to make compromises,” the CEO notes. The seat has thicker cushions than would be found on a slim design, together with a reclining feature as well as full-size armrests and tray tables.

The seats delivered to Jazeera will come in differing versions. Seats destined for the front of the cabin will be able to recline and will feature a personal electronic device holder and moveable headrests. Those further back will not all have the option to recline.