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Boeing's transition: From comfortable cabins to profit-driven layouts

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Boeing's transition: From comfortable cabins to profit-driven layouts
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Airbus A380 | Airbus

The Boeing 777, a long-haul favorite among passengers, has seen changes in its seating configurations over the years. Originally designed with a wide cabin to accommodate 9-abreast seating, many airlines have transitioned to a denser 10-abreast layout. This shift aims to improve profitability by reducing cost per seat mile (CASM), though it may compromise passenger comfort.

"A 1992 Industrial Design Excellence award was presented for its 777 passenger cabin. This [was] the first time the Industrial Designers Society of America honored an airplane interior," Boeing noted about the aircraft's initial design accolades.

While major carriers like American Airlines, United Airlines, KLM, and Air France have adopted the 10-abreast configuration, some airlines continue to offer the original 9-abreast seating. According to Sam Chui's article, airlines such as Air China, ANA, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways maintain this more spacious arrangement.

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Despite these changes in configuration trends for existing models, Boeing is looking ahead with the development of the 777X. The new model features innovative design changes that add internal cabin width without altering fuselage diameter. The Sky Architecture and cabin design of the 777X received recognition from Aircraft Interiors International for the Crystal Cabin Award in 2020.

"In economy class," Boeing advertises regarding its latest model, "airlines can delight passengers with premium economy comfort in a nine-abreast configuration. At 10-abreast, every passenger can count on a standard economy comfort seat."

As industry insiders speculate on future layouts for these planes—with Singapore Airlines reportedly opting for a 3-4-3 layout—it seems likely that the trend toward denser seating will persist with newer aircraft models.

Websites like aerolopa.com and seatguru.com provide travelers with tools to research airline seating configurations before booking flights.

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