Virgin Atlantic has unveiled its new cabin interior design for its latest aircraft type – the Airbus A330neo.
Virgin Atlantic was the first UK airline to announce a firm order for up to 16 Airbus A330neos in 2019. The A330-900neos are designed to be 11% more fuel and carbon efficient than the A330-300 they are directly replacing and is said to deliver a 50% reduction in airport noise contour.
“The A330neo plays a significant role in our multi billion dollar fleet transformation, demonstrating our commitment to the planet,” Virgin Atlantic chief customer and operating officer Corneel Koster said in a release.
Koster added: “We know the most impactful thing we can do as an airline is to fly the cleanest, greenest, youngest fleet possible and the A330neo is integral to achieving this goal. It’s truly a plane for the future.”
For the new A330neo aircraft, the Virgin Atlantic in-house Design team worked in collaboration with Factorydesign to develop the new Retreat Suite, Upper Class Suite and The Loft.
Upper class cabin
The Airbus A330-900neo features the airline’s upgraded Upper Class cabin which has brand new seats, all forward-facing. The 30 seats offer more space and storage alongside a privacy door with a ‘do not disturb feature’ that fully closes. It has passenger-controlled mood lighting, 17.3” touchscreen TV, and in-seat wireless charging.
The Retreat Suite
Virgin Atlantic has also introduced its highest seat category in its history, the Retreat Suite.
The Retreat Suite is an entirely new innovation in Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class offering and consists of two exclusive suites at the front of the cabin.
This is the airline’s most spacious suite, comprising a 6 ft 7 inch direct seat to fully flat bed and a 27 inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity and wireless charging. Each suite has an ottoman that doubles up as an extra seat, so up to four people can comfortably dine, chat or play games in their own private social space.
The Loft
Virgin Atlantic retained ‘The Loft’, its award-winning social space. While its purpose of allowing premium passengers to socialize and relax remains, the Loft in the new A330neo has also received an upgrade from the Airbus A350 version.
The Loft consists of space for eight people, with four comfortable seats, allowing guests to sit and chat or enjoy refreshments from the new self-service fridge and drinks dispenser.
Customers can also connect Bluetooth headphones to the dual panoramic 27 inch touchscreens or utilize the wireless charging facilities for their devices.
Premium
There are 46 premium economy seats on the A330neo. The seats have a 38 inch pitch and are now accompanied by calf rests and a 13.3 inch touchscreen TV with Bluetooth audio. Premium economy passengers also have an in-seat wireless charging pad.
Economy
Economy passengers on Virgin Atlantic’s A330neo can enjoy the airline’s largest economy screen at 13.3 inches. It also includes an intuitive touchscreen and Bluetooth audio to connect headphones, with passengers able to use their phone as a controller.
Customers can also choose between 28 Economy Delight seats, offering an increased 34 inch seat pitch, or 156 Economy Classic seats, providing a 31 inch pitch.
Virgin Atlantic’s A330neo is expected to fly to Boston on its first customer flight in October 2022. From September 2022, the airline will take delivery of three A330neo aircraft, with the remaining deliveries following between 2023 and 2026.