Boeing's all-new business class seat is also a sky-high double bed

Boeing has pulled back the covers on its all-new business class seat, which will be offered to airlines as an off-the-shelf seat for the pointy end of their factory-fresh Boeing jets as well as retrofit upgrades.

Intended for twin-aisle jets such as the Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner family, it not only converts into a lie-flat bed but allows the paired middle seats to become a cosy double bed.

Developed with automotive seatmaker Adient, it’s the flagship of several concept designs in the portfolio of joint venture Adient Aerospace and will this week be shown to potential customers at Hamburg’s annual Aircraft Interiors Expo.

Other details are scant surrounding the new seat, apart from that it converts into a fully lie-flat bed and - as can be seen from the photo - makes room for the mod cons of personal space to spread out one’s work and keep selected inflight items close at hand.

However, the smartphone nestled into a recessed compartment hints that wireless charging - already found on the latest Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy mobiles - could be part of the high-tech roster.

The seat also appears to have sliding privacy doors similar to those of Qatar Airways’ Qsuite.

“It will be our goal to provide a superior customer and passenger experience by delivering superior quality seats with intelligent product design,” said Alan Wittman, CEO of Adient Aerospace.

Adient Aerospace is seeking to carve out a slice of the commercial airline seating market, which industry analysts expect to grow from US$4.5 billion in 2017 to US$6 billion by 2026.

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.