Fixed-shell premium economy seats have elicited varied responses from passengers. Some appreciate the privacy and control over their space, while others criticize the absence of a traditional reclining mechanism, which slides forward to avoid encroaching on the space behind.
Acro Aircraft Seating has introduced its new INNOVARES platform, which integrates a combination of recline mechanisms by blending an articulated seat pan with a pivoting seat back. “This innovative design ensures a genuine pivoting recline experience for passengers, resulting in a ‘cradle’ effect that enhances overall comfort during extended flights,” said Acro CEO Neil Cairns. He added, “This allows INNOVARES to get the best of both worlds through a high pivot point, resulting in passengers experiencing no reduction in living space around their knees and legs when the seat in front reclines.”
INNOVARES marks Acro’s strategic entry into the premium economy seating segment and supports a recline of up to 11 inches. An initial version was showcased at last year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, while an improved version appeared at AIX 2024 with enhanced color, materials, finish (CMF), and branding elements.
“Generous recline, maximal foot space and contemporary design” are key differentiators of INNOVARES according to Cairns. The firm aimed to bring simplicity and minimalist thinking to the design while maintaining its core principles.
The footwell of INNOVARES is designed to prioritize passenger comfort by addressing limited living space in premium economy cabins on widebody aircraft. Cairns stated, “By reviewing other products in the market, it was clear that innovation in delivering footwell space was a key opportunity to move this segment forward.” He emphasized that smart design decisions enabled this benefit rather than new unique materials.
The positive reception of INNOVARES’ foot-space at AIX 2023 led Acro’s engineers to further develop this feature as a key attribute of the seat. Feedback also suggested improvements for the headrest area, which were addressed for AIX 2024 along with enhancements to ergonomics such as tray position and table clearance.
Discussions with several airlines about potential retrofit opportunities are progressing positively. Cairns noted significant enthusiasm for the enhanced passenger experience offered by INNOVARES. Additionally, Acro is collaborating with an established IFE vendor to enhance usability and reliability.
While some manufacturers design seats for both premium economy and domestic first class needs, INNOVARES is tailored primarily for long-haul premium economy class on widebodies. For narrowbody markets, Acro focuses on its Series 7 seat with updates launched at AIX 2024 featuring enhancements aligning with current trends.
Acro is known for lightweight economy class seats providing ample room even in tight configurations. At AIX 2024, they also showcased expanded variants of their Series 9 family of economy seats. “Word is spreading amongst airlines about the advantages Series 9 offers,” said Cairns.
Recently securing two new customers for its Series 9 economy class seats—Volotea and Pegasus—Acro continues expanding its footprint within various cabin segments.
