Mystery airline behind new Nova business class suite

The Vantage Nova business class suite pulls together the latest features for premium flyers.

By David Flynn, September 24 2024
Mystery airline behind new Nova business class suite

There’s a fresh take on business class soaring into the skies, but the airline which will be first to fly this sophisticated suite remains unknown.

The seat is the Vantage Nova, from Thompson Aero Seating – a business class specialist that’s already behind the premium cabins of Delta Air Lines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, Virgin Atlantic, JetBlue and Malaysia Airlines, among others.

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

Designed for twin-aisle aircraft such as the Airbus A330neo and A350 and Boeing’s 787 and 777 families, Nova brings together the latest business class trends in a elegant design with residential-style cues.

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

Ross Burns, Head of Industrial Design for Thompson Aero Seating, describes Nova as being developed “from the ground-up to be totally passenger-centred.”

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

The seat itself adopts a Zero-G profile where passengers can tilt and lower their body while raising their legs, resulting in a highly relaxing position for comfort and circulation.

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

Sliding doors add privacy, wireless device charging is built into a benchtop phone cradle, and several storage nooks sit behind unobtrusive panels.

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

All middle seats have deep benchtops, with a slide-down (or slide-up) pivacy panel between passengers.

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

The front row of a Nova business class cabin can also become a spacious ‘business plus’ proposition with additional room and features – such as companiomn seating and a 32" monitor, compared to 24" across the rest of the cabin – which airlines can up-sell to passengers or keep reserved for their top-tier frequent flyers.

Airlines can order the Nova ‘off the rack’ from Thompson’s catalogue or customise it with an array of flexible options and in-house styling.

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

Airlines can also choose the orientation of the window seats, which Nova offers in a herringbone configuration where seats are next to the window and angled to face the aisle...

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

... or a ‘reverse herringbone’ layout which sees passengers sitting next to the aisle but facing the window.

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

Thompson claims airlines will love Nova’s ability to offer a full flatbed business class experience at a pitch as low as 40”, which fits more seats into the same floorspace compared to other designs.

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

Thomson’s Chief Commercial Officer Andy Morris confirms that a launch customer is already locked in for Nova, with first delivery scheduled for 2026.

(This rules out newcomer Riyadh Air, which will launch its 787 ‘Mercedes Maybach’ business class in mid-2025).

Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.
Thompson's Vantage Nova business class seat.

“The programme with our launch customer is progressing well,” Morris says, “and discussions are ongoing with several other potential customers keen to discuss the options and discover how they and their passengers could benefit from this innovative seat.”

12 Dec 2023

Total posts 5

I think it could be EVA as they worked with Thompson on their 787 Business Class Cabin and their A350s and their refurbished 777s are expected to come in 2026. They'll probably stick to the standard reverse herringbone decision but the feel of the cabin will probably look more industrial and sleek. I think their new premium economy and economy class would probably be supplied by Recaro as they worked with EVA for their economy cabins in the 787 (hopefully they'll keep the 3-3-3-3 config in the 777).

12 Dec 2023

Total posts 5

And maybe Business Class Plus if EVA is feeling it to go head to head with Starlux

18 Sep 2015

Total posts 139

Those seats are angled quite steeply - there seems to less and less personal space in each iteration the manufacturers come up with.


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