AirNZ unveils wider seats for its A320neo fleet.

Air New Zealand has unveiled new economy seats for its A320/321neo aircraft that are up to 3cm wider than existing seats and feature  a new slimline design the airline says will offer passengers more space. In a bid to make it more attractive, the much disliked middle seat will be 3cm wider — or 48.6cms (19.1 inches) wide — in the new aircraft. The window and aisle seats will be 1cm wider than the existing seats, which are 45.4cms (17.9 inches) between the armrests. The airline revealed the new economy seats by UK company Acro Aircraft on Wednesday at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg and said it had also worked with New Zealand company Flight Designs to develop a new seat cover delivering “superior comfort levels for longer’’. An AirNZ spokeswoman said seat pitch on the neos would be similar to the current A320 international fleet but a slimmer seatback design would provide more personal space.  Seat pitch on the current A320s goes as low as 30 inches and as high as 34 inches, according to SeatGuru. Air New Zealand general manager customer experience Anita Hawthorne said in the company’s announcement that the design of the new seat was customer-led. Hawthorne said the airline and Acro had been keen to address key areas of customer feedback and further improve the inflight experience. “The slightly wider middle seat helps balance out the fact that window and aisle seat customers enjoy a greater sense of space,’’ she said.  “We currently have many customers who state a preference for window or aisle seats and it’s possible the new design may see the middle seat get a boost in popularity. AirNZ has a history of innovation, particularly in terms of seating, and Hawthorne said company believed the new seats were not practical from an operational perspective but more comfortable and spacious for customers. Acro Chief Executive Officer Chris Brady said the seat attracted attention at the interiors expo. “To reveal the new seat at this event, which showcases all the very latest innovations, technologies and products for cabin interiors was hugely exciting and piqued a lot of interest in the new product from other airlines and the wider industry alike,” he said. Air NZ has 13 Airbus A320neo family aircraft on order to replace its current A320 fleet and will receive a combination A320neos and A321neos with deliveries widely expected to start in 2018. “The exact configuration for our A320/A321neo aircraft and delivery schedule is yet to be finalised,’’ the airline’s spokeswoman said.