Stelia develops custom business seat for China Airlines’ A321neo

On 29 November, 2021 Taiwan-based China Airlines (CAL) took delivery of the first of its 25 A321neo aircraft on order, which has now been fitted out and is due to enter into service shortly. The aircraft has been configured with 180 seats: 168 in economy class and 12 in Premium Business Class, the latter being a highly customised version of the narrowbody version of Stelia Aerospace’s Equinox business class seat.

The Equinox seat will include many features specifically designed for China Airlines (with additional input from JPA Design), including a 180° fully flat bed with an enlarged width of 22.5in; retractable privacy screens between the seats; a personal storage area under the 15.6in 4K IFE display screen, with a door that also serves as a small cocktail table; a new LED control panel for electrically adjusting the seat; an inductive charging pad for mobile devices; and a special mood lighting programme that projects around each passenger’s head, enhancing comfort at night and aiding sleep.

The A321neo is also fitted with Airbus Cabin Flex, which has enabled the airline to relocate various fixtures and fittings to make optimal use of cabin space. One such element is the full-height front row monument, also created with Stelia Aerospace, which has been tailored for China Airlines to optimise storage space and cabin seat count, as well as providing a welcoming and branded boarding zone.