Airbus new overhead 'L Bins' retrofit to begin in 2025
By Sharon Petersen Wed Sep 27, 2023
Lufthansa will be the first retrofit customer for the Airspace L Bins announced this year by Airbus
Starting in January 2025, 38 of Lufthansa’s A320s will be refitted with the new bins providing 60% more bag capacity than the previous-generation A320 bins.
The new overhead bins allow vertical loading of carry-on roller bags, resulting in a 60% increase in baggage capacity. The increased capacity improves the passenger experience and reduces cabin crew workload, in particular during boarding and deplaning.
Airbus Head of Commercial Services Europe Charbel Youzkatli says, “We know from talking with airline customers that bigger bins are a clear need to enhance the passenger experience. As with the XL Bins, the L Bins provide more space with the added advantage of a plug and play retrofit. We are thrilled to see Lufthansa as the first to offer the L Bins to its passengers and to reap the efficiency benefits it brings to aircraft turnarounds.”
The benefits are wide ranging. L Bins are designed to be retrofitted in three to five days which is Airbus’ fastest and most cost effective A320 retrofit solution. This results in less aircraft downtime for the airline. Secondly, L Bins allow space for three extra bags per bin, creating a better experience for customers and crew when boarding and deplaning.
The bins, made of ultra-lightweight and highly stable composite products, will be manufactured by EFW (Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH). As with all Airbus retrofits, reusing the same components to minimise waste is a key consideration. The L Bin re-uses many parts of the original bin including the sidewall, ceiling and lighting.
New stowage dimensions
The new L Bins will be able to fit bags that are 61cm (height) x 38cm (width) x 25cm (depth).
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