Aerospace

Thompson Aero Seating’s VantageSOLO takes flight with Iberia on very first A321 XLR

Posted 13 November 2024

Thompson Aero Seating’s illustrious VantageSOLO today takes flight with Iberia on the very first A321 XLR. The entire vision behind Iberia’s A321 XLR is to enable the airline to use a single-aisle aircraft for long-haul flights, whilst maintaining the same premium service enjoyed on their twin-aisle aircraft – thus making VantageSOLO the perfect choice of seat.

Image courtesy Iberia

The VantageSOLO was initially developed by Thompson and Factorydesign specifically in response to increasing business class cabin requirements on board the medium-to-long-range latest generation of single-aisle aircraft.

Thompson was the first to design and certify this type of seating product a number of years ago with Iberia’s business-class passengers being the latest to benefit from a fully horizontal flat bed seat, each with its own direct-aisle access.

Factorydesign and Thompson have a long a successful history of working together to bring about a vision that promotes wellbeing in conjunction with a feeling of luxury. Iberia chose this pairing for the business-class interior of its A321 XLR. Soft, natural elements have been carefully selected for the trim and finish. Warm, woven materials give a welcoming feel and wood-effects continue the theme. There is the occasional pop of colour from Iberia’s red and yellow brand accents. Comfort and function are offered by wide leather headrests and thoughtfully designed compartments.

Fixed screens have been selected by Iberia to increase the sense of privacy in these already secluded seats. Each seat also features its own lighting system, which the passenger can adjust to create their own individual atmosphere, and there are 18-inch 4K monitors offering the sharpest of images. There are 14 business class seats in each of Iberia’s A321 XLRs and Thompson will deliver eight ship sets in total.

James McNally, Programme Manager, Thompson Aero Seating, said: “The VantageSOLO is both elegant and efficient. Because it has been developed specifically for the long-range narrow-body market it makes the absolute most of every inch of space available, giving the passenger impressive comfort and privacy. We were delighted to work with Iberia on such an exciting project.”

Marco Sansavini, CEO and President of Iberia, said: “We are very proud to be the launch airline for this new Airbus aircraft. The A321XLR will allow us to reach new destinations, operate transoceanic routes and do so more efficiently. And we do so while providing our business customers with all the comfort that VantageSOLO offers.”