News

Andy Masson succeeds Alan Wittman as the CEO of Adient Aerospace.

“I’m extremely happy to be welcomed at Adient Aerospace”, said Andy Masson. “Alan has done a great job bringing us here, the whole team is highly grateful for his leadership and we wish him well in his new role.
From my experience with so many different seats, running Airplane Modifications over the last few years, it’s clear Adient Aerospace has a stunning set of class leading products. This is a great team and a fantastic set of facilities, we will make a huge difference to the market”.
Andy was a member of the core team involved with standing up the Boeing Global Services division of the Boeing Company. Andy was most recently Director of Modifications and Freighter Conversions leading these activities for Boeing Global Services. Previously, Andy held multiple positions with Continental DataGraphics (CDG) and expanded their global footprint, including opening entities in Ireland,Turkey and growing their team in India. As Managing Director for CDG and a member of the Boeing United Kingdom Board of Directors, he played a central role in transforming CDG into an EASA approved engineering-focused business, specializing in cabin interiors and passenger seating.

Aircraft seating joint venture Adient Aerospace has significantly increased its operation with the acquisition of economy-class specialist Lift by Encore.

London, December 2, 2019. Dominic Perry, FlightGlobal.com

Under the deal, headcount at Adient Aerospace will increase by around 40%, says chief executive Alan Wittman. The company also gains a production facility in Huntington Beach, California to add to its existing Kaiserslautern, Germany site. Adient Aerospace already had a relationship with Lift by EnCore, offering that company’s “tourist-class” seats as a complement to its own Ascent business-class model, for which Lift was also providing furniture. Additionally, the purchase sees the Lift business transfer between different Boeing companies: in June this year the airframer bought EnCore Group, which owns the Lift line, rebranding it as Boeing EnCore Interiors.
 
Adient Aerospace, meanwhile, is a joint venture between Boeing and automotive supplier Adient which became operational in October 2018. Despite the link with the Seattle airframer, Wittman says Adient Aerospace paid a “genuine valuation” for the Lift business: “Boeing didn’t just give it to us.” However, he declines to put a specific value on the deal. Lift by EnCore’s economy-class seat has now been rebranded as Ovation, says Wittman. He describes the purchase as “really strategic” for the joint venture, giving Adient Aerospace its own “design, test and build” capability. Wittman says Adient Aerospace’s backlog is for about 70 shipsets – covering Boeing single and twin-aisle aircraft – with the Ascent seat to launch on 787-9s for Hawaiian Airlines in 2021.“We are encouraged by the market reaction; that’s a pretty good uptake in a year,” says Wittman. Although part-owned by Boeing, Wittman says it has also been talking with Airbus and is “going through the vetting process”, with the European manufacturer to “provide another choice for airlines”. While declining to offer specifics on Adient Aerospace’s next product, Wittman says it is “putting a lot of effort into the single-aisle business-class market”. That is driven by the growth of longer-range narrow bodies, he says, where people “will pay for more comfort on an eight-hour trip”. 

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/seating-firm-adient-aerospace-snaps-up-lift-by-encore/135617.article

Adient Aerospace and Crane Aerospace & Electronics Partner on Boeing EcoDemonstrator

Frankfurt, Germany, November 20, 2019Adient Aerospace which formed a collaboration with Crane Aerospace & Electronics Cabin Systems to provide innovative seat actuation for theirAscent™ business class seats in 2018 – has now partnered with Crane to support the Boeing 2019 ecoDemonstrator program.“Adient Aerospace is proud to support the ecoDemonstrator program, displaying connected cabin technologies with our seating system,” said Adient Aerospace CEO AlanWittman. “Crane Aerospace & Electronics’ mcX seat actuation system supports the next-generation of connected cabin functionality”
The Ascent business class seats are equipped with sensors to provide real-time information to cabin crews about seat functionality. Over time, this information will enable airlines to use predictive analytics to determine when to replace parts and perform other maintenance.“Crane is pleased to partner with Adient Aerospace to showcase our versatile mcX system on Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator program,” said Chris Cook, vice president and general manager of Crane Aerospace & Electronics Cabin Systems. “Our innovative mcX seat actuation system provides connected-cabin functionality with application capability that enhances maintenance efficiency and preserves seat health. Our mcX system seamlessly supports a connected cabin and is the latest example of Crane A&E’s desire to provide innovative solutions for our valued industry partners.” The Ascent seat is one of a number of connected cabin technologies being tested this fall on Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator 777. The program is visiting Frankfurt, Germany, this week to showcase innovative technologies that advance aviation. More than 1,000 guests – including industry stakeholders, students and employees – are registered to attend the two-day technology exhibition.

Crystal Cabin Award Winner

Hamburg, Germany, April 3, 2019
Adient Aerospace, with sponsored student Sahngseok Lee, are proud recipients of the 2019 Crystal Cabin Award for the "1FA" (1 For All) concept. 1FA optimizes various seating classes nested together in a Tetris-like arrangement connected by stairs, resulting in the best possible use of cabin space.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hamburg, Germany, April 2, 2019
Adient Aerospace are proud to announce Hawaiian Airlines as the launch customer for the new Ascent Suite. Hawaiian will be installing this advanced premium product on their new B787-9 fleet in 2021.

Hipa Hipa to Hawaiian Airlines’ excellent 787-9 up front product

April 21, 2024. Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Runway Girl Network

Hawaiian Airlines, our launch customer, took flight with our Ascent Business class seats (Leihōkū Suites) this month and the customer experience has been positive. “The whole of the experience is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Hawaiian’s new Leihōkū product is a memorable experience for all the right reasons.”

Read the full review here:

Hipa Hipa to Hawaiian Airlines' excellent 787-9 up front productRunway Girl (runwaygirlnetwork.com)

A new era for Hawaiian Airlines as it launches Dreamliner service

April 16, 2024. Clint Henderson, The Points Guys

Our Ascent Business Class was mentioned by The Points Guy as a game changer for Hawaiian Airlines after experiencing the inaugural flight of their new 787-9! “Business class features an all-new, suite-style Adient Aerospace Ascent seats … the new business class is a game changer for Hawaiian Airlines”

Read the full review here:

A new era for Hawaiian Airlines as it launches Dreamliner service: TPG was on the inaugural - The Points Guy

Ascent is one of the most anticipated new business class seats of 2024

January 18, 2024. Fergus Cole, Business Traveler

The Business Traveler recognized not one, but two of our customers, American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, for having the most anticipated new business class cabins of 2024. Our award winning Ascent business class seats are improving the experience of a world in motion for passengers and we are honored that our airline partners have chosen Ascent for their premium cabins.

"American Airlines’ Flagship Suites will provide more space for business class passengers than current cabins, wood-effect sliding doors for added privacy, and dark grey seats surrounded by calming grey walls with deep red touches."

"Evoking the Polynesian culture that defines the Hawaiian islands, these new [Hawaiian Airlines] business class cabins will feature 34 Leihōkū Suites in a 1-2-1 configuration. All suites will include lie-flat seats, sliding privacy doors, and 18-inch IFE screens."

Read the full article here:

The 10 Most Anticipated New Business Class Cabins of 2024 - Business Traveler USA

Ascent Front Row Suite wins the 2023 Good Design Award

Chicago, January 2024. GOOD DESIGN

We are honored to announce that our Ascent Front Row Suite won the 2023 Good Design Award, as awarded by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum for Architecture and Design.

"Developed to transform the typical front row monument and business class seat into a spacious travel experience, the Ascent Front Row Suite demonstrates that innovation shouldn’t only be defined by the creation of new features or services for passengers, but by new transformative experiences. ... Utilizing Adient’s world-class automotive comfort and craftmanship processes throughout this project, Ascent has set a new benchmark in single-aisle premium-class seating for density and comfort."

For more than seven decades since its inception, The Chicago Athenaeum continues the organization of the program to create an awareness about contemporary design and to honor both products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing that have chartered new directions for innovation and pushed the envelope for competitive products in the world marketplace.

Read the full project description here:

The Good Design Awards (good-designawards.com)

Hawaiian Airlines recognized by The Design Air for the 2023 Best New Business Class

London, December 05, 2023. Jonny Clark, The Design Air

Our customer Hawaiian Airlines was recognized by The Design Air for the 2023 Best New Business Class! We're honored that the Leihōkū Suites, our Ascent product, received this award. “Dubbed Leihōkū Suites, Hawaiian’s brand-new Business Class product that will start commercial service in early 2024 is lightyears ahead of its existing wide-body offering. When the seats – which will be found in the airlines new Dreamliner fleet – start flying, they’ll be joining the ranks of Qatar Airways and other flag carriers who also fly the brand new Adient [Aerospace] herringbone product.”

Read more about this recognition here:

TheDesignAir –Congratulations to TheDesignAir Award Winners, 2023

Ethiopian Airlines selects Ascent business class seats for 787

Dubai, November 14, 2023. Boeing

Ethiopian Airlines is to install Adient Aerospace Ascent lie-flat business class seats in the premium cabin of its existing 787Dreamliners.

Read the full press release here:

Ethiopian Airlines Agrees to Landmark Order for Up to 67 Boeing Jets - Nov 14, 2023 (mediaroom.com)

Ascent Front Row Suite

August 2023.  Aircraft Interiors International

Our Ascent Front Row Suite is featured in the Aircraft Interiors International August/September 2023 Seating Review issue! "Adient Aerospace has created the Front Row Suite as a way to elevate the long-haul narrowbody experience, not just through new features or services, but through new transformative experiences."

Read the full feature on page 63:

Aircraft Interiors International: August/September 2023

Ascent Front Row Suite Wins the 2023 IDEA!

New York City, August 30, 2023. Industial Designers Society of America

"The International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) is one of the longest running and most prestigious design awards programs in existence. The competition highlights design in many connected disciplines, including design strategy, branding, digital interaction, and so much more."

"Winning an IDEA is a career defining moment and puts your design on a global platform, gaining it industry recognition alongside some of the most lauded products of all time. Past IDEA winners are some of the most successful and significant products ever created. They change people’s lives, create new industries, and ignite imaginations."

Read the full project description on the Industial Designers Society of America site here:

Ascent Front Row Suite - Industrial Designers Society of America (idsa.org)

Gorgeous: Hawaiian Airlines’ New Boeing 787 Business Class

May 15, 2023. Ben Schlappig, One Mile At A Time

Adient Aerospace's Ascent Business Class Suites are featured in the One Mile At A Time article for our launch customer Hawaiian Airlines' B787 Dreamliner Cabin Design, highlighting their Leihoku Suites (Ascent Business Class Suites).

"The business class seats will be known as the Leihōkū Suites, and each seat will have an 18″ personal entertainment monitor, power outlets, and wireless charging. Furthermore, the center seats are designed in such a way that couples will essentially be head-to-head in the reclined position if the partition is lowered."

Read the full article here:

Hawaiian Airlines' New Boeing 787 Business Class - One Mile at a Time

Hawaiian Airlines Unveils Boeing 787 Dreamliner Cabin Design; Introduces Leihōkū Suites

Honolulu, May 15, 2023

Adient Aerospace is proud to have our Ascent Business Class Suites on our launch customer Hawaiian Airlines' B787-9 fleet.

“It was evident from the beginning that Hawaiian Airlines is very passionate about its culture and branding, and making sure that this came through in the design language and in the passenger experience,” said Adient Aerospace CEO Tony Guy. “It is so rewarding to bring this vision collaboratively to life and see it realized in the delivered product.”

Read Hawaiian Airline's full press release here:

Hawaiian Airlines Unveils Boeing 787 Dreamliner Cabin Design; Introduces Leihōkū Suites | Hawaiian Airlines | Newsroom

Ascent Front Row Suite

May 2023.  Aircraft Interiors International

Adient Aerospace's Ascent Front Row Suite was featured in the May 2023 issue of Aircraft Interiors International as a 2023 Crystal Cabin Finalist for bringing widebody luxury to narrowbody cabins.

"With the Ascent Front Row Suite that brings widebody business-class comfort features to narrowbody seating, Adient Aerospace is answering new demands for the passenger experience."

Read the full article, with us featured on page 163, here:

Aircraft Interiors International : May 2023 (mydigitalpublication.co.uk)

2023 Crystal Cabin Award Finalist

Hamburg, May 03, 2023. Jett Koch, Crystal Cabin Award

We are thrilled to share that our Ascent Front-Row Business Class Suite, in partnership with Boeing EnCore Interiors, is a Finalist for the Crystal Cabin Award in the 2023 Passenger Comfort category. We elevated the passenger experience for narrow-body business class seating by creating a luxurious and spacious suite.

"Adient Aerospace in cooperation with Boeing EnCore Interiors hones in on business customers in single-aisle aircraft, offering a new configuration for long-haul flights that eschews spatial restrictions."

Read the full project description on the Crystal Cabin Award site here:

Crystal Cabin Awards 2023: These innovations are on final approach for success | CRYSTAL CABIN AWARD (crystal-cabin-award.com)

Innovative aviation ideas shortlisted for 2023’s Crystal Cabin Awards

March 14, 2023. Francesca Street, CNN

Adient Aerospace's Front-Row Business Class Suite has been shortlisted for this year's Crystal Cabin Award. Our latest version of Ascent and front row monument offers passengers a luxurious, comfortable narrow-body cabin experience with thoughtful touches for wellness, sleeping and productivity.

"While business class on wide-body airliners can be a very swanky experience, on narrower aircraft it usually just means a bit more leg room and some upscale food and drink. Adient and Boeing Encore Interiors set about imagining an elevated short-haul business class: a lie-flat bed, loads of storage for luggage, minibar, library and space for another passenger to join you for a meeting or catch-up."

Read the full article here:

Innovative aviation ideas shortlisted for 2023's Crystal Cabin Awards | CNN

Design For Life

March 2023. Marisa Garcia, Aircraft Interiors International

Adient Aerospace was featured in the most recent issue of Aircraft Interiors International. We sat down with other seating experts to share our thoughts and practices about how we are creating a truly sustainable product.

"Sustainability isn't something that anyone can do alone. It's not something that an aerospace company can champion without partners or suppliers and OEMs participating. It's an industry initiative, looking at the full cycle from your footprint down to what your supply chain is doing."

Read the full article, with us featured on page 20, here:

Aircraft Interiors International : March 2023 (mydigitalpublication.co.uk)

College students take front seat for sustainability research

March 8, 2023. Glynnis Richard, Boeing News Now

This project with Gonzaga University and Boeing is one of many ways we promote sustainability and collaboration here at Adient Aerospace. "The students are using Adient Aerospace’s Ovation seating to study cabin product design, manufacturing and maintenance to find new approaches to increase sustainability measures."

Read the full article here:

College students take front seat for sustainability research - Boeing (onfirstup.com)

Adient Aerospace Wins the 2022 GOOD DESIGN Award

Chicago, January 4, 2023. GOOD DESIGN

Adient Aerospace is pleased to announce that Altitude has won the 2022 Chicago Athenaeum Museum prestigious GOOD DESIGN award, being recognized for Altitude's Design Excellence.

Founded in Chicago in 1950 by Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames, GOOD DESIGN remains the oldest and the world’s most recognized program for design excellence worldwide. The GOOD DESIGN Logo is the world's most recognized public certification for consumer design excellence and is used by the world's foremost corporations, manufacturers, and designers to identify their product's design merit. This year, the Chicago Athenaeum Museum received a record number of submissions from the world’s leading manufacturers and industrial and graphic design firms representing the most important and critical mass of influential corporations in the design industry from over 55 countries, representing the best consumer design ranging from the ‘spoon to the city’ for sustainability, superior design, and unparalleled function.

Read the full project description on the GOOD DESIGN site here:

The Good Design Awards (good-designawards.com)

Adient Aerospace introduces two new business-class options for narrowbody aircraft

December 15, 2022. Adam Gavine, Aircraft Interiors International

In 2022, Adient Aerospace launched two new single aisle lie flat business class seats designed for both Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. The all-new Altitude and Ascent are featured in the Aircraft Interiors International 2023 Design Showcase.

"Through its in-house design capabilities. Adient Aerospace seeks creative yet attainable solutions, with a focus on understanding the unmet needs of passengers and customers. The team approaches innovation with a spirit of collaboration, by working early on with trusted suppliers, design studios and customers to develop innovative, premium products capable of leading the industry for years to come."


Read the full article here:

Aircraft Interiors International : 2023 Showcase (mydigitalpublication.co.uk)

Adient’s new 737 Ascent business and business-plus shine

August 18, 2022. John Walton, Runway Girl Network

"Combining both a doored herringbone mini-suite in the second row and a spacious front row business-plus suite that features a partner ottoman and all the space you could want in a narrowbody, Adient — and indeed Boeing — have done a remarkable job with this seat on several levels."


Read the full article here:

Adient’s new 737 Ascent business and business-plus shine -Runway Girl (runwaygirlnetwork.com)

The Future Of Luxury Travel From The Farnborough Airshow

July 2022. Michele Robson, Forbes

Adient Aerospace's Ascent business class seats were highlighted in a Forbes article on Luxury Travel. As showcased at the Farnborough International Airshow, Qatar Airways' B787-9 offered visitors an opportunity to explore the award winning Ascent wide body business class suites, including the cabana suite, in an in cabin experience. Adient also exhibited the all new Ascent narrow body business class suite, complete with a luxurious first row experience.

"An ottoman, IFE, stowage, and other amenities designed to fit with seat manufacturers existing design ... allows airlines to create bespoke larger suites in the front row.  The most noticeable feature was the champagne on-demand feature. This allows the passenger to have a bottle of champagne, and glasses appear at the touch of a button."

Read the full article here:

The Future Of Luxury Travel From The Farnborough Airshow (forbes.com)

Adient Aerospace wins the 2021 GOOD DESIGN Award

Chicago, December 23, 2021. GOOD DESIGN

Adient Aerospace is pleased to announce that Ascent has won the 2021 Chicago Athenaeum Museum prestigious GOOD DESIGN award, being recognized for Ascent's Design Excellence.

Founded in Chicago in 1950 by Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames, GOOD DESIGN remains the oldest and the world’s most recognized program for design excellence worldwide. The GOOD DESIGN Logo is the world's most recognized public certification for consumer design excellence and is used by the world's foremost corporations, manufacturers, and designers to identify their product's design merit. This year, the Chicago Athenaeum Museum received a record number of submissions from the world’s leading manufacturers and industrial and graphic design firms representing the most important and critical mass of influential corporations in the design industry from over 55 countries, representing the best consumer design ranging from the ‘spoon to the city’ for sustainability, superior design, and unparalleled function.

Read the full project description on the GOOD DESIGN site here:

The Chicago Athenaeum - Ascent Business Class Seats | 2018-2021 (chi-athenaeum.org)

Adient Aerospace Wins The 2021 International Yacht & Aviation Awards

August 20, 2021. design et al

Adient Aerospace is pleased to announce that the innovative design of our Ascent business class seat has won the prestigious International Yacht & Aviation Awards for Cabin Design.

“Ascent is a full lie-flat seat developed for widebody aircraft bringing luxury automotive seating standards to commercial aviation passengers by Adient Aerospace. The ultimate design goal for Ascent was to deliver a high quality, luxurious product to the modern business class passenger synonymous with any high-end car interior they may have left behind in the airport parking garage before the flight. Focusing not only on passenger comfort of ergonomics, Adient Aerospace designed Ascent for a wholistic cabin experience adding thoughtful touches for wellness, sleeping and productivity.”

Read the full announcement here:

design et al Yacht & Aviation Winners 2021 Archives - design et al (thedesignawards.co.uk)

Ascent Takes Off

August 2021. Adam Gavine, Aircraft Interiors International

Adient Aerospace's Ascent business class seat was featured in the Innovation Showcase of the August 2021 Aircraft Interiors International Magazine.

"When Qatar Airways' newest B787-9 Dreamliner took to the skies in June, its passengers experiences the highly anticipated debut of Adient Aerospace's Ascent business class seat. ... The Ascent experience has been created by drawing on innovative approaches from Adient's experience as a global leader in automotive seating. Ascent, designed for the B787 and B77, and the A330 and A350, has several shipsets now in service, and a strong backlog of orders."

Read the full article here:

Aircraft Interiors International : August 2021 (mydigitalpublication.co.uk)

Qatar Airways fits Ascent business class suite to B787-9s

June 25, 2021. Adam Gavine, Aircraft Interiors International

"Today sees Qatar Airways launch its 311-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on key routes to Europe and Asia, starting with Doha to Milan. The star of the aircraft is the airline’s latest business class suite, which is the Adient Ascent model, a modular seating system designed with Acumen Design Associates and first presented at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 in Hamburg. The platform became HIC certified, ETSO approved, Sub part G approved and APDOA approved in January2021."

Read the full article here:

Qatar Airways fits Ascent business class suite to B787-9s - Aircraft Interiors International

Revealed: Qatar Airways’ new Boeing 787-9 business class suites

June 25, 2021. David Flynn, Executive Traveller

“A fresh high-tech touch is the addition of wireless charging – compatible with both Apple and Android devices – so you can slide your smartphone into the 'dedicated phone holder' and keep it topped up en route. The seat itself is the all-new Ascent Business Class Suite from Adient Aerospace, a joint venture between auto seat maker Adient and Boeing.”

Read the full article here:

Revealed: Qatar Airways’ new Boeing 787-9 business class suites - Executive Traveller

Qatar Airways Introduces New Generation Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Featuring a New Business Class Suite [Ascent]

Doha, June 24, 2021

Adient Aerospace is honored that Qatar Airways has selected our Ascent Business Class Suites on their B787-9 Dreamliners.

“Crafted with the unique Qatar Airways design DNA and appealing to the most discerning of travellers, the new Adient Ascent Business Class Suite embodies a contemporary design that is truly personal, spacious and functional, allowing you to relax in your own private sanctuary.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al-Baker, said: 'In-line with our commitment to offering our passengers an unparalleled travel experience, we are pleased to introduce this much-anticipated Business Class Suite on Qatar Airways’ newest wide-body aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 which will debut onto a number of key routes within our network."

Read Qatar Airway's full press release here:

Boeing787-9 | Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways reveals new 787-9 Business Class Suite, and as expected, it’s the new Ascent seat

June 24, 2021. Jonny Clark, TheDesignAir

“As Qatar Airways couldn’t fit its lauded QSuite in to the aircraft, it’s had to opt for a different solution. In steps the new Adient Aerospace Ascent Business Class Suite which embodies the QSuitekey features, while still offering a more condensed contemporary design that is truly personal, spacious and functional, 'allowing you to relax in your own private sanctuary,' as Qatar Airways’ press release states.

It’s a very suitable product for the 787, offering a comparable product, while making the most of the LOPA. the suite walls aren’t as high, but the privacy remains.”

Read the full article here:

TheDesignAir –Qatar Airways reveals new 787-9 Business Class Suite, and as expected, it’s the new Ascent seat

Could Ascent by Adient Aerospace climb the ranks?

June 20, 2021. Jonny Clark, TheDesignAir

“Ascent is a full lie-flat seat developed for wide-body aircraft bringing luxury automotive seating standards to commercial aviation passengers. 'Craftsmanship is the process we employ to improve the quality and value of the product throughout the design and manufacturing of Ascent. It’s not only functional, but comfortable, consistent, and provides harmonious surfaces for the ultimate passenger experience,' continues [Trystan Parry, Vice President of Sales & Product Support].

For those traveling alone, every Ascent seat offers a totally private suite with the use of a sliding privacy door that seals off and encloses the passenger away from all aisle traffic. For passengers traveling together, the centre seats become a shared space when the privacy divider is fully lowered, creating the ‘Cabana Suite’ where couples can enjoy a movie or meal together."

Read the full article here:

TheDesignAir –Could Ascent by Adient Aerospace climb the ranks?

Ascent Launch Imminent

June 2021. Adam Gavine, Aircraft Interiors International

"Since Adient Aerospace launched the Ascent business class suite at AIX in 2018, Hawaiian Airlines signed up as launch customer for its B787-9 aircraft, and further orders have since been awarded for programmes with additional (undisclosed) customers. The process should be efficient, as Adient has been working with OEMs to optimise the design for swift installation, and for fast repair turnaround times while in service.

Ascent was developed using automotive seating principles, at Adient's Automotive Comfort Lab, to provide the levels of comfort found in luxury cars. The ergonomics address both perceived and actual comfort, with pressure-mapping and surveys conducted to gain accurate comfort data, which was studies, and implemented in the design."

Read the full feature here:

Aircraft Interiors International : June 2021 (mydigitalpublication.co.uk)

Adient’s Ovation economy seating capitalizes on lessons from LIFT

April 16, 2021. Marisa Garcia, Runway Girl Network

“Our team worked extensively to re-engineer and re-design the Ovation seat based on in-service feedback and lessons learned from our initial launch. We created a simple, clean, and modern designed seat that provides passengers with an ergonomically optimized comfortable seat. Comfort is a key factor in Adient automotive, one that we continue to carry into our aerospace products through comfort labs and our comfort process.”

Customization options for Ovation seats include a personal electronic device (PED) holder with room for larger tablets and smaller cellphones, IFE provisions, power provisions, life vest stowage, coat/headphone hook, attendant step, CMF (color, material, finish) options for dress covers, and a seatback cove, which is the little caved-in area on the seatback shell.

Read the full article here:

Adient’s Ovation economy seating capitalizes on lessons from LIFTRunway Girl (runwaygirlnetwork.com)

Adient Aerospace have been shortlisted for The International Yacht & Aviation Awards

March 29, 2021. design et al

Adient Aerospace is pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted for the innovative design of our Ascent business class seat for Cabin Design (Business & First Class) award in The International Yacht & Aviation Awards.

 “Ascent is a full lie-flat seat developed for widebody aircraft bringing luxury automotive seating standards to commercial aviation passengers by Adient Aerospace. The ultimate design goal for Ascent was to deliver a high quality, luxurious product to the modern business class passenger synonymous with any high-end car interior they may have left behind in the airport parking garage before the flight. Focusing not only on passenger comfort of ergonomics, Adient Aerospace designed Ascent for a wholistic cabin experience adding thoughtful touches for wellness, sleeping and productivity.”

 

Read the full announcement here:

design et al Ascent by Adient Aerospace - The International Yacht & Aviation Awards (thedesignawards.co.uk)

Adient blends auto and aero for Aspect and Ascent seats

March 28, 2021. Marisa Garcia, Runway Girl Network

As some airlines start to see green shoots of recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, Adient Aerospace is looking to grow its footprint on aircraft.

The company, a joint venture between leading automotive seat maker Adient and aircraft manufacturer Boeing, has planted a flag in the long haul narrow body segment with its new single-aisle friendly Aspect seat.

Separately, Adient in January announced the completion of head injury criterion (HIC) testing and certification for its Ascent outward-facing herringbone seat, which has already attracted Hawaiian Airlines as a launch customer aboard the carrier’s forthcoming Boeing 787-9twinjets.

 Both of these premium seat products benefit from Adient’s automotive heritage in Kaiserslautern, Germany, as well a collaborative approach with suppliers which sees all parties work to optimize the form, fit, and function of the seats, and ensure maintenance reliability, quality, passenger comfort, and aesthetic appeal.

Read the full article here:

Adient blends auto and aero for Aspect and Ascent seats - Runway GirlRunway Girl (runwaygirlnetwork.com)

Adient Aerospace joins the RedCabin Webinar "The Ascent of Adient Aerospace"

Huntington Beach, Kaiserslautern, March 16, 2021

Listen to Adient Aerospace's very own Peter Frentzel, Director of Procurement, and Stephanie Faulk, Director of Sales & Marketing, at the RedCabin Webinar held on Tuesday March 16, 2021. Learn how our automotive heritage positively influenced our development process for our Business Class Suite Ascent in this panel discussion on early collaboration, innovation and communication across our industry.

Moderated by Ronn Cort, President at Sekisui Kydex, panelists also include Matt Cleary, Co-Founder, ACLA Studio and Christian Strecker, Business Development Manager, Crane Aerospace & Electronics. In case you missed it, you can still register and view the recorded session.

Adient Aerospace Successfully Completes Certification of Ascent Business Class Seat

Huntington Beach, January 2021

Adient Aerospace would like to thank everyone involved in the tremendous efforts to certify our Ascent business class seat and furniture! We have successfully completed our HIC testing campaign and received ETSO approval. This was a big group effort from every department across all of our sites as well as exceptional support from our partners, customers and suppliers alike. We’re excited to offer our customers a certified product for retrofit and linefit programs.

Adient Aerospace Ascent Business Class Suite
>HIC Certified
>ETSO Approved
>FAA Approved
>APDOA Approved
>Sub part G Approved

Business Class On The Ascent

September 2020. Adam Gavine, Aircraft Interiors International

Adient Aerospace is confident in the swift recovery of air travel, and in growing demand for business class seats.

2020 has certainly been a challenging year for aviation, but some players are feeling very positive about the prospects of recovery and growth on the horizon. One such company is Adient Aerospace, whose CEO, Andy Masson, says that the agility that comes with being a relative newcomer to the market gives it a potential advantage.

Read the full article here:

Aircraft Interiors International : September 2020 (mydigitalpublication.co.uk)

The Future Of Lie Flat Seats On Narrowbody Planes

June 10, 2020. Joanna Bailey, Simple Flying

The market is wide open for innovation in the single aisle business class sector. One of the most exciting products to be revealed recently is Adient Aerospace’s Aspect seat, a lie flat business class solution developed specifically for the narrowbody market. It should have been unveiled to much fanfare at Aircraft Interiors Expo in April, but due to the current situation, the company has had to be satisfied with a somewhat quieter reveal.

Although Capex is under increasing scrutiny right now, chief executive Andy Masson remains positive that the current market conditions are in the new product’s favor. He told FlightGlobal, “As the market returns, we think it only accelerates that [shift] and points towards narrowbody aircraft becoming very prevalent in future … we have been asked for this single-aisle lie-flat seat for a while.”

Read the full article here:

The Future Of Lie Flat Seats On Narrowbody Planes (simpleflying.com)

Adient Aerospace upbeat as it unveils new single-aisle business-class seat

London, May 29, 2020. Dominic Perry, Flight Global

Despite the immediate impact of the coronavirus on air transport, seating manufacturer Adient Aerospace – part owned by Boeing – is pressing ahead with the launch of a new lie-flat business-class seat for single-aisle jets.

Called Aspect, the seat was due to be unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in April, but following that show’s postponement, Adient Aerospace has taken another tack, promoting via a “soft launch” directly to selected airlines.

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Adient Aerospace upbeat as it unveils new single-aisle business-class seat | News | Flight Global

Space For All is a 2020 Crystal Cabin Award Finalist

Hamburg, February 20, 2020

The Crystal Cabin Award is one of the most coveted seals of quality in the global aviation industry. We are pleased to announce that our Space For All (SFA) concept is a Crystal Cabin Award Finalist for 2020. SFA uses the space between the bulkhead seats and the bulkhead wall to create an extended flat surface to use as a lounge seat or a common space for children and adults. When locked in position, SFA provides each passenger with an extended flat surface to use as a lounge seat or, with all three deployed, a common space for children and adults. With the seat armrests in the raised position, SFA provides the front row passengers with over 17sq/ft of shared flat bed space. In the bed mode, the center armrest can be lowered and deployed, providing a coffee table or work station. Watch our Space For All video to see the concept in action!

"If you are the sort of person who likes to cuddle up with the whole family in bed, and you don’t want to miss out on that when you fly Economy, you will love the idea from finalist [Adient Aerospace]: it equips the seat row behind the bulkhead separating Economy from Business Class with 'SFA Space for All' a new extension/retraction mechanism that turns the seats into a large single surface for parents and children. Individual seats in the row can also be converted into beds."

Aircraft seating joint venture Adient Aerospace has significantly increased its operation with the acquisition of economy-class specialist Lift by Encore.

London, December 2, 2019. Dominic Perry, Flight Global

Under the deal, headcount at Adient Aerospace will increase by around 40%, says chief executive Alan Wittman. The company also gains a production facility in Huntington Beach, California to add to its existing Kaiserslautern, Germany site. Adient Aerospace already had a relationship with Lift by EnCore, offering that company’s “tourist-class” seats as a complement to its own Ascent business-class model, for which Lift was also providing furniture. Additionally, the purchase sees the Lift business transfer between different Boeing companies: in June this year the airframer bought EnCore Group, which owns the Lift line, rebranding it as Boeing EnCore Interiors.
Adient Aerospace, meanwhile, is a joint venture between Boeing and automotive supplier Adient which became operational in October 2018. Despite the link with the Seattle airframer, Wittman says Adient Aerospace paid a “genuine valuation” for the Lift business: “Boeing didn’t just give it to us.” However, he declines to put a specific value on the deal. Lift by EnCore’s economy-class seat has now been rebranded as Ovation, says Wittman. He describes the purchase as “really strategic” for the joint venture, giving Adient Aerospace its own “design, test and build” capability. Wittman says Adient Aerospace’s backlog is for about 70 shipsets – covering Boeing single and twin-aisle aircraft – with the Ascent seat to launch on 787-9s for Hawaiian Airlines in 2021.“We are encouraged by the market reaction; that’s a pretty good uptake in a year,” says Wittman. Although part-owned by Boeing, Wittman says it has also been talking with Airbus and is “going through the vetting process”, with the European manufacturer to “provide another choice for airlines”. While declining to offer specifics on Adient Aerospace’s next product, Wittman says it is “putting a lot of effort into the single-aisle business-class market”. That is driven by the growth of longer-range narrow bodies, he says, where people “will pay for more comfort on an eight-hour trip.”

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Seating firm Adient Aerospace snaps up Lift by EnCore | News | Flight Global

Adient Aerospace and Crane Aerospace & Electronics Partner on Boeing EcoDemonstrator

Frankfurt, November 20, 2019

Adient Aerospace which formed a collaboration with Crane Aerospace & Electronics Cabin Systems to provide innovative seat actuation for theirAscent™ business class seats in 2018 – has now partnered with Crane to support the Boeing 2019 ecoDemonstrator program.“Adient Aerospace is proud to support the ecoDemonstrator program, displaying connected cabin technologies with our seating system,” said Adient Aerospace CEO AlanWittman. “Crane Aerospace & Electronics’ mcX seat actuation system supports the next-generation of connected cabin functionality”
The Ascent business class seats are equipped with sensors to provide real-time information to cabin crews about seat functionality. Over time, this information will enable airlines to use predictive analytics to determine when to replace parts and perform other maintenance.“Crane is pleased to partner with Adient Aerospace to showcase our versatile mcX system on Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator program,” said Chris Cook, vice president and general manager of Crane Aerospace & Electronics Cabin Systems. “Our innovative mcX seat actuation system provides connected-cabin functionality with application capability that enhances maintenance efficiency and preserves seat health. Our mcX system seamlessly supports a connected cabin and is the latest example of Crane A&E’s desire to provide innovative solutions for our valued industry partners.” The Ascent seat is one of a number of connected cabin technologies being tested this fall on Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator 777. The program is visiting Frankfurt, Germany, this week to showcase innovative technologies that advance aviation. More than 1,000 guests – including industry stakeholders, students and employees – are registered to attend the two-day technology exhibition.

Adient warmly received for bringing design ethos to premium seating

August 06, 2019. Mary Kirby, Runway Girl Network

Adient Aerospace, the new joint venture between leading automotive seat maker Adient and aircraft manufacturer Boeing, appears to have, pardon the pun, gone from zero to sixty in three seconds in aviation. And with good reason. Known for the quality of its seats in the auto world, Adient has translated its design ethos to aircraft interiors. 

The result is that Adient Aerospace has already won admirers for its impressive mock-ups and real-design seats at the annual Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, and more importantly a launch customer in the form of Hawaiian Airlines for its modular Ascent seating platform. 

Selecting a 1-2-1 outward-facing herringbone layout for its Boeing 787-9 twinjets, Hawaiian this spring boasted that Ascent would delight leisure guests such as couples and families “who value a blend of shared and private experiences,” while providing enhanced functionality for business class travelers.

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Adient warmly received for bringing design ethos to premium seatingRunway Girl (runwaygirlnetwork.com)

1 For All is Crystal Cabin Award Winner

Hamburg, April 3, 2019

The Crystal Cabin Award is one of the most coveted seals of quality in the global aviation industry. Adient Aerospace, with sponsored student Sahngseok Lee, are proud recipients of the 2019 Crystal Cabin Award for the "1FA" (1 For All) concept for the University category. This category recognizes the best student-led visions for innovative product or concept, fulfilling the objective of making flying more comfortable. 1FA optimizes various seating classes nested together in a Tetris-like arrangement connected by stairs, resulting in the best possible use of cabin space. It interweaves the various seat classes to achieve the maximum possible use of space. Premium and Economy passengers may find themselves next to one another or even above or below one another — alone or within compartments.

Watch the awards ceremony interview with Sahngseok as the designer explains the most innovative features of 1FA and what this award means to him.

Hawaiian chooses Adient herringbone for 787

April 03, 2019. JohnWalton, Runway Girl Network

Hawaiian Airlines is to install an Adient Aerospace’s Ascent outward-facing herringbone seat in the premium cabin of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with the Collins Aerospace Aspire fully-featured economy class seat further back in the aircraft. Hawaiian is the first announced customer of the Adient-Boeing joint venture, and is working with Adient and design house Teague on the integration of the seat, which will be what the airline calls “a modular premium lie-flat seat featuring double suites and designed specifically for the wide- body cabin of the 787-9”. 

Renee Awana, Hawaiian Airlines’ managing director of product development, confirms to Runway Girl Network that “as configured this will be a 1-2-1 outward facing herringbone… the Adient platform creates a great mix of privacy and shared seating options. The center doubles, in particular, are going to offer a really fantastic ‘suite’ experience that we think will be well received by couples. Adient is also committed to working with us to bring in design details and CMF that richly evoke Hawaii in a sophisticated, contemporary way. We’re working closely with Adient and Teague to bring the details of the seat to life.”

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Hawaiian chooses Adient herringbone, Collins Aspire for 787 - Runway GirlRunway Girl (runwaygirlnetwork.com)

Hawaiian Airlines Ascent Launch Customer

Hamburg, April 2, 2019

Adient Aerospace is proud to announce Hawaiian Airlines as the launch customer for the new Ascent Business Class Suite. Hawaiian will be installing this advanced premium product on their new B787-9 fleet in 2021. We look forward to working with Hawaiian Airlines, providing a fresh perspective in cabin quality and comfort to improve the passenger experience.

“We couldn’t be more pleased for Adient Aerospace ... to join us in creating a distinctively Hawaiian cabin experience in our future flagship aircraft,” said Avi Mannis, senior vice president for marketing at Hawaiian Airlines. “Our guests will enjoy the island-inspired comfort and warm hospitality for which we’re known, while relaxing in seats that represent the cutting edge of innovation in seating technology.”

AIX 2018: Adient and Boeing reveal first fruits of collaboration

Hamburg, April 9, 2018

Almost three months after announcing their planned partnership, Adient and Boeing are today unveiling two prototype seats they intend to contribute to Adient Aerospace, their recently-proposed cabin seating joint venture. One of the concepts – a configuration of four lie-flat business class widebody seats branded as Ascent– is being displayed to select potential customers in an invitation-only area of Adient's extensive stand at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg.

The link-up between Adient and Boeing, which is still subject to regulatory approval, brings together one of the world's big two airliner manufacturers with a leader in automotive seating. Together they will design and manufacture a portfolio of seating products as factory-fit or retrofit options that will also be available for non-Boeing types.

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AIX: Adient and Boeing reveal first fruits of collaboration | News | Flight Global

Driving Change

March 2018. Adam Gavine, Aircraft Interiors International

Adient Aerospace: The seating sector could be facing market disruption, caused by the entry of a joint venture between Boeing and Adient, a major automotive seating supplier. In a world exclusive, Aircraft Interiors International speaks with key figures at Adient Aerospace, to find out their motives and ambitions.

"From what we have observed, and by talking with aircraft customers, we have found that customers want more choice, innovation, features and functions to provide a better passenger experience. The industry needs disruptive technologies and disruptive thinking that changes how we approach solving the problems of flying and having an enjoyable experience - and we are coming up with great solutions that will change the game."

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