Lufthansa Technik (LHT, Booth L089) is celebrating a “Home” coming here in Geneva, introducing a VIP interior concept for the Airbus A350 that the completion and refurbishment specialist has designed for a new generation of executive airliner buyers. “We call it ‘Home,’ because that’s what it’s supposed to be,” said Michael Reichenecker, LHT interior architect and Home’s co-designer. “Our customers are getting younger, and they will have different demands on what they want their aircraft to do,” he said.
LHT believes these customers will demand a flexible space that allows them to alternately enjoy complete family privacy or entertaining, while still accommodating staff and other support needs.
EBACE attendees can take a virtual tour of the interior at LHT’s display at its booth, where Home is showcased on 3D monitors and iPad apps providing 360-degree views from various points in the floor plan. Reichenecker is also on hand to explain the fine points of the design.
Home brings the master suite area to the front of the cabin. “That’s the best place in the airplane–the most quiet, the least affected by movement, the place you want to be if you own this aircraft,” said Reichenecker. The forward section can be closed off with “huge sliding doors,” transforming the space into a private suite with bedroom, and providing the opportunity to gather alone with family, “something VIPs often don’t have enough time to do,” Reichenecker said.
A small office in the master suite area provides room to meet with staff, video conference, and attend to other business without impinging on family fun.
This private forward section joins a large guest area farther back in the cabin and, when the sliding enclosures are opened, forms “a huge cinema lounge” for entertaining.
“The idea is that you really can open it up to a wide, brightly lit space, or can close it off and be in a totally shielded area,” said Reichenecker.
Given the hectic lifestyles of widebody aircraft owners, healthy dining is also a focus. With a galley equipped with LHT’s new inductive cooking stove, “You can always have a fresh meal prepared instead of having something coming out of a microwave,” said Reichenecker.
Also adding to the wellbeing at Home: there’s a large spa area in the rear of the aircraft, equipped with a steam shower, massage bench, and workout and relaxation areas.
Enhancing the comforting ambiance, the interior will feature organic materials such as brushed oak and natural fabrics. A humidification system and LED mood lighting will heighten a feeling of being on top of the world for those onboard.
“We wanted to put the human being at the center of the story,” Reichenecker said. “We want the VIP to leave more relaxed than when they entered.”
Composite airframes such as the A350’s can create challenges for completion centers, but Lufthansa Airlines operates A350s, initially outfitted by LHT, providing hands-on experience with the airframe. “We have a huge expert team,” said Wieland Timm, LHT’s head of VIP sales.
The interior can be further customized to meet owner tastes and preferences, and can also be adapted for the Boeing 777 and 787 airframes. Home will take approximately two years to construct. “It will not be the fastest [completion], but it will be the best looking,” claimed Reichenecker.
Its A350 interior concept notwithstanding, LHT sees demand for new narrowbody bizliners declining, and preowned sales and refurbishments on the increase. The used inventory is coming mostly from the Middle East and Asia, Timm said, as are purchases and requests for retrofits. Here again, LHT sees a generational shift occurring.
“The customers are getting younger and they do not want to wait so long to get a new aircraft and interior,” observed Timm. “You see this especially in the Asian market. The buying pattern is similar to luxury cars: They go in the shop, say ‘I’ll take it,’ in red or green, and they want it delivered tomorrow.”
That impatience is an advantage for LHT, Timm said, pointing to its Elite and Leadership Select modular interiors designed for ACJs and BBJs respectively, which he said are “the fastest-built cabins in the world; we can deliver it, everything included, in five months.”
LHT is also showcasing products from Inairvation, its joint partnership established to develop products for business jet interiors. These innovations include a new, competitively priced content service, offering early window releases, for Nice HD, LHT’s integrated CMS/IFE (cabin management system/inflight entertainment) system. LHT has an active Nice HD retrofit program for Global aircraft.
“The Chair,”which is what LHT calls Inairvation’s in-development all-purpose business aircraft seat, is also on display. First deliveries are expected in Q2 of next year, said Philip von Schroeter, Inairvation’s CEO, and LHT’s director, OEM business units.
LHT’s Patient Transport Unit, a small intensive care module for executive airliners and military transports, is also being shown. “Doctors really love it,” said von Schroeter. “When we see delegations coming to the booth with people who have the money, doctors are always convincing the finance units to go for it.”
