During Virgin Atlantic’s showcase of their newest aircraft, the Airbus A330-900neo, Henry Buckley, lead designer of the Airbus A330-900neo sat down with The Path Less Traveled. Henry provided some great insight on the many design elements that have been meticulously thought out.
Who are the designers?
There are 3 staff members with multidisciplinary backgrounds including industrial design and aviation industry experience. Working together “in house” provides collaboration within Virgin Atlantic departments and the manufacturers. Staff members have also worked on the A330-1000 interior design.
What was the vision for the A330-900neo?
There are four principals that tie into the vision and design of the aircraft. They are; upfront, honest, emotion and transport. Honest ties into honesty and integrity, a key factor at Virgin Atlantic. A strong emphasis with honesty is making connections both physically and emotionally. Physical connections include things like Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi. Emotion is integrated into the design throughout the social spaces such as The Loft. With emotion, there is a strong focus on connecting with the Virgin brand and one another.
How does the A330-900neo differ from the legacy A330?
In addition to the new interior the A330-900neo is significantly better for the environment compared to older aircraft. There is a 20% reduction in carbon emissions, 50% less noise and 11% more efficient when compared to the Airbus A330-300 legacy aircraft which the A330neo replaces. The cabin is made of leather free materials which is 50% lighter boosting aircraft efficiency.
What is the layout on the A330-900neo?
In the very front of the aircraft is the Retreat Suite, an elevated Upper Class Suite offering the ability to seat 4 people inflight. It is possible to eat a meal together or share the space and mingle. In the front of the aircraft, 30 Upper Class Suites with fully lie flat beds provide a premium experience which begins right at the airport.
At the main boarding door is The Loft which instantly greets passengers when boarding. Lighting and interior finishes provide a welcoming space and provides a destination away from the seat with belted couches, Bluetooth TV and even a mini fridge with stocked snacks nearby. Socialization is heavily encouraged in this space. Mid-cabin are 46 Premium seats designed by Rockwell Collins offering wireless charging, large TV screens configured in a 2-3-2 layout. In the rear of the aircraft are 28 seats for Economy Delight boasting 34″ of legroom and 156 Economy seats featuring the largest TV screen in economy and 31″ of seat pitch.
A full interview can be found below. A special thank you to the Virgin Atlantic team for showcasing their latest game changing aircraft, the A330-900neo.
