Air France has unveiled upgraded Business Class seats for its Boeing B777-300ER aircraft. In addition to this, the airline has also unveiled a more sustainable catering concept for all cabin classes.
Upgraded Business Class
The upgraded B777-300ER Business Class seats’ design is based on the 3 “F”s:
- Full Flat, meaning that the seat transforms into a real bed almost two metres long
- Full Access, providing all passengers direct access to the aisle
- Full Privacy, ensuring optimal privacy
Air France has now added sliding doors to its Business Class seats “to create a totally private space, out of sight from the other passengers in the cabin”. The upgraded seat also features a wide 17.3-inch 4K High-Definition anti-glare screen with a noise-reducing headset, a new Bluetooth connection allowing passengers to use their own headphones and several electric sockets.
The seat’s padding adds softness and a feeling of cosiness. Wool, brushed aluminium, full-grain French leather are the noble, soft and natural materials chosen by Air France for the manufacture of its seats. Each seat is also embroidered with the company’s trademark red accent. As you board the aircraft, you are greeted by a backlit winged seahorse, embodying the company’s founding myth and rich history.
To create a greater sense of privacy for passengers travelling together, the seats located in the centre of the cabin are now equipped with a central panel that can be lowered by pressing it down.
These upgrades seats will only be available on the airline’s 12 Boeing B777-300ER aircraft as per the current plans and will be progressively rolled out from September 2022. Each aircraft will feature 48 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. The airline is also installing its latest Premium Economy seats (48 seats) and Economy seats (273 seats) on board these aircraft. Each cabin is elegantly decorated in the brand’s signature colours: navy blue, white for light and contrast, and hints of red.
Named “Fontainebleau”, the first aircraft equipped with these new cabins and a WiFi connection will fly to New York-JFK this autumn.
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Premium Economy and Economy seats
In the Premium Economy cabin, Air France is introducing its latest recliner-type seat model already available on its Airbus A350. Each seat offers 38 inches of legroom and the seat cushions have been redesigned and the navy blue herringbone fabric adds further softness. The seat back reclines to 124 degrees and has been widened to provide greater privacy. A new noise-reducing audio headset is integrated into the seat and is easy to use at any time during the flight. The seat also features USB-A and USB-C ports.
The Economy seats are 17 inches wide and have 31 inches of legroom. The seats has a 119 degree recline. The backrest is ergonomically designed, offering reinforced lateral support. It is also equipped with a USB-A port.
The seats in these two cabins are equipped with a 13.3-inch 4K High-Definition screen with Bluetooth connection.
Sustainable catering concept
Airlines these days are trying to become more and more sustainable and one area which they are targeting the most is the onboard catering, reducing the use of plastic and thus reducing the pollution. Air France is no different, just like Etihad. As part of this, the carrier is eliminating 90% of single-use plastic items on board its aircraft by the beginning of 2023. To achieve this objective, Air France is continuing to develop eco-designed in-flight items that are manufactured from bio-based materials such as bagasse and celullose. Items that can no longer be used on board are donated to charities.
In addition, in its fight against food waste, Air France is also progressively introducing the option for customers to pre-select their hot dish in Business class prior to departure. This service combines the guarantee of customer choice and a more rational consumption.
The Paris-based airline is also introducing a responsible dining offer with nutritrious French produce on flights departing from Paris. In the Business cabin, France’s leading Michelin-starred chefs take turns to propose a selection of vegetarian dishes as well as refined meat, poultry and fish dishes. In Premium Economy, passengers now enjoy a dedicated meal, just like Emirates. In the Premium Economy and Economy cabins, the meals are systematically Nutri-Score A or B-certified.
By the end of 2022, on all flights departing from Paris, the airline says that it is committed to offering in all its cabins meat, dairy products and eggs of French origin, fish from sustainable fisheries, the systematic choice of a vegetarian dish and meals that are fully prepared in France. The company will also offer kids and babies’ menus made from fully-organic ingredients.
Meanwhile, on 17th May 2022, Air France will launch flights to Quebec City, its fourth destination in Canada after Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Featured image by Air France
All the other images by Air France
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