Transaero Confirms Each of Its A380s Will Have 652 Seats

Transaero’s Airbus A380 superjumbos will easily have the highest seating density of any A380s delivered by 2015 and will also have more seats than any other commercial aircraft.

Russian carrier Transsaero Airlines has designed a 652-seat interior lay-out for each of its four new Airbus A380s, giving them the highest seating density of any A380s yet delivered. Transaero’s A380s will also have more seats than any other commercial aircraft. Each Transaero A390 will have 12 Imperial (First) Class suites, 24 Business Class flat-bed seats and 616 Economy-class seats, each offering a 31- or 32-inch seat pitch

When it finalized its order for four A380s in June 2012, Transaero Airlines indicated it planned to operate them with up to 700 seats installed. More recently it indicated each A380 would have about 50 fewer seats than that installed and Transaero’s April 17 announcement of its firm A380 seating configuration confirms that downward adjustment in seat numbers.

Transaero Airlines has now completed the interior design for its A380s. Each Transaero A380 will be configured in three classes of service – Imperial (First), Business and Economy.

Imperial class is a unique Transaero Airlines service product. Each of its A380s will have 12 closed suites with luxury seats, which extend into fully flat beds. Separation from neighboring seats will be possible using retracting blinds, which will ensure privacy and comfort in each personal area.

The seats in Imperial class will be the largest in their class and will be upholstered with fabric glittering with shades of gold, according to Transaero. The Imperial class cabin will be located in the front of the aircraft on the lower deck and will feature a 1-2-1 seat-row configuration.

Transaero’s A380 Business Class will accommodate 24 cocoon-style seats, upholstered with high-quality fabric, which may be easily transformed into 180-degree flat beds. The Business class cabin will be located in the front of the aircraft on the upper deck and each seat row will be in 1-2-1 configuration.

The Imperial and Business class cabins will be fitted with mood lighting, creating an ambience for passengers by changing color during different stages of the flight.

Transaero Airlines will also install bars in its Imperial and Business Class cabins. In line with its existing services, Transaero has also planned special cloakrooms for passengers in these classes.

Each Transaero A380 will have 616 seats Economy Class seats, with Economy seating located on both the lower and upper decks of the aircraft.

The seats in this class will be upholstered with high-quality leather featuring a 3-D effect, according to Transaero. The seat pitch in Economy class will be 31 to 32 inches, complying with global standards for comfort in long-haul Economy class cabins.

In the Transaero A380, the Economy seats will be configured in 3-4-3 rows on the lower deck and in 2-4-2 rows on the upper deck.

Transaero Airlines says its А380s will be fitted with an advanced high-speed in-flight Internet access system, ensuring data transfer speeds of up to 12 Mb/sec for each passenger. Each A380 will also have the Panasonic eX3 advanced in-flight entertainment system fitted.

“When developing the interior design of our A380s we strived to make full use of the advantages of this type of aircraft,” says Olga Pleshakova, Transaero Airlines’ CEO. “The unique passenger capacity provides for very comfortable conditions for passengers. When creating the new configuration we referred to Transaero’s extensive positive experience of operating aircraft with 522-seat capacity.”

Transaero operates some of the 20 Boeing 747-400 widebodies in its fleet in a two-class, 521-seat interior configuration. It operates others in a four-class, 352-seat configuration.

Pleshakova adds: “I am certain the first A380 aircraft in the Russian market will be very popular among our clients, both on domestic and on international routes. The launch of their operation will become a new step in the development of Russian commercial aviation.”

Transaero Airlines also has four Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental passenger jets on order and it appears likely the carrier will configure the interior of each to seat well in excess of 500 passengers.