Cathay Pacific will likely be making modifications to the format of its Airbus A321neos, to make the airplane extra comfy for each passengers and crew, as reported by Government Traveller. That’s a fairly uncommon factor within the business these days, eh?
Cathay Pacific plans Airbus A321neo cabin modifications
Cathay Pacific has a complete of (a minimum of) 30 Airbus A321neo plane on order, with roughly half of these planes having already been delivered. That is the Hong Kong-based service’s solely slender physique airplane, and the backstory is kind of attention-grabbing.
These planes have been first ordered for Cathay Pacific regional subsidiary Cathay Dragon, however Cathay Pacific determined to merge Cathay Dragon into the mainline fleet a number of years again, and within the course of, these slender physique planes additionally joined Cathay Pacific’s fleet. Since then, the airline has even expanded its order, recognizing the worth these planes convey to the fleet.
Whereas Cathay Pacific has very excessive service requirements throughout the board, these planes undoubtedly aren’t essentially the most comfy within the fleet, as you’d count on. The planes have a complete of 202 seats, together with 12 recliner enterprise class seats and 190 economic system class seats.
With that in thoughts, Cathay Pacific has dedicated to introducing a brand new format on these planes within the close to future, centered round a number of enhancements:
- Cathay Pacific needs to extend seat pitch in economic system, so the airline will likely be eradicating some seats in an effort to enhance legroom; economic system seat pitch on these planes is presently 30″, which compares unfavorably to the remainder of the fleet
- Cathay Pacific plans to maneuver a few the rear toilets ahead of the rear doorways, in an effort to make them extra spacious; presently the A321neos have a few these tremendous tight toilets which have turn into fairly commonplace on A320-family plane
- Cathay Pacific plans to extend rear galley area, to make it simpler for the crews to work; presumably that is made attainable by shifting the toilets ahead
The airline hasn’t but clarified what number of economic system seats will likely be eliminated. Sadly the airline additionally doesn’t have plans to introduce new enterprise class seats, whilst rivals more and more introduce flat beds on some regional slender physique plane (China Airways, Korean Air, Singapore Airways, Thai Airways, and so forth.).
The timeline with which Cathay Pacific plans modifications
When can we count on Cathay Pacific’s new Airbus A321neo format? The plan is that the seventeenth of those jets to be delivered will be part of the fleet within the second quarter of 2026, sporting new cabins. The remaining A321neos to be delivered may even all include these cabins put in.
On prime of that, within the second half of 2026, the airline plans to retrofit its 16 present A321neos, as fleet consistency is a precedence. That venture is predicted to be carried out fairly rapidly, so it might be that this complete venture is completed by the tip of 2026.
Backside line
It’s extremely uncommon to see an airline take away seats from a airplane in an effort to enhance consolation, however that’s precisely what Cathay Pacific is doing on its slender physique plane. This yr we must always see some modifications to Cathay Pacific’s A321neo fleet, together with a rise to seat pitch in economic system, extra spacious toilets behind the airplane, and extra galley area.
It stays to be seen precisely what number of seats the airline will sacrifice with this venture, however both approach, it’s a mighty buyer pleasant transfer for an airline to make, and never one thing we frequently see.
What do you make of Cathay Pacific’s A321neo plans?
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