Skift Take
The battle for the inch and the battle for the butts-on-seats is -- in the end -- a battle for the birds in the sky.
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Boeing revealed its design plans for the 777X aircraft during the Farnborough Airshow in England last week. It includes a number of key passenger experiences enhancements and a space-age interior decor.
The new aircraft, Boeing states, will build on the interior of the current 777 and apply a number of successful 787 Dreamliner cabin innovations; including allowing airlines some interesting options for economy class seat widths.
The Battle of the Inch
Airbus made calling for an industry standard of 18" seats for long-haul flights its corporate cause last year, through its "Comfort without Compromise" campaign. The aircraft manufacturer cited sleep studies to back up its claim that this extra inch increased passenger comfort and well-being. But Boeing has stood firm against snipes pointing out its one-inch seat inferiority on the higher capacity aircraft. Boeing has pointed out that airlines should be free to choose the seat width which best suits their business strategies.
This polemic inch has allowed Airbus to take the high-ground on passenger comfort -- but no more.
In its announcement of the passenger experience created for its newest long-haul, twin-aisle airplane–the 777X—Boeing said it "will continue its leadership in offering unprecedented levels of comfort for the traveling public and enhanced flexibility for airlines."
The union of those two concepts is key. While passengers may be swayed by talks of an extra inch of width onboard, airlines are less likely to find this inch a hot selling point.
On the 777X, though, airlines will be able to provide those 18-inch seats to passengers, without compromising their cabin capacity. Boeing has confirmed that a 10-abreast configuration with 18" seats is
