Business Class Seat: Waterfront Seat Allows Passengers Control Every Feature with Phone or Tablet

The Waterfront Seat was designed by Panasonic Avionics, B/E Aerospace, Formation Design Group and Teague. Passengers can connect their devices and customise their environment with a few taps on a companion app. Seating position, LED lighting, heating, cooling and airflow can all be adjusted using a mobile phone or tablet.

Some of the world’s leading designers have created a new business class seat that would allow passengers to control almost every feature or setting, including a revolutionary touchscreen monitor and LED lighting, with their smartphone or tablet.

If an airline signs on to develop it, the Waterfront private suite concept – or a variation of it – would become the most well-connected plane seat in the world.

Passengers’ mobile phones would recharge wirelessly when placed on a side table and they would be able to customise their environment with a few taps on a companion app.

The Waterfront Seat, designed by Panasonic Avionics, B/E Aerospace, Formation Design Group and Teague, has been nominated for a prestigious Crystal Cabin Award at next week’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany.

Billed as a ‘next-generation’ seat, it was designed at a time when travellers are increasingly unable to disconnect and business class passengers want to control their private space.

Passengers can sync their smartphone or tablet to the in-flight entertainment system and use it to watch films or TV programmes or display information from their device on a 24in 4K touchscreen monitor with seamless edge-to-edge glass.

When connected, the device could be used to adjust the seat’s head, leg and back rests to a desired position anywhere between fully upright to a 79in flat bed, or control heating, cooling or airflow – a first for business class.

The design allows passengers to change the colour or intensity of hundreds of LED lights within the suite to suit their activities, whether they’re eating, watching a film, doing work on a laptop computer or sleeping.

In addition to using personal devices, the seat’s features can be controlled through a wireless 7in screen located next to the 4K monitor or a handheld remote control that is within reach even when a passenger in bed.

The system has been designed to memorise passengers' favourite settings, which can be immediately configured with presets.

Devices could be charged wirelessly, meaning there would be no need to struggle with laptop or phone chargers, although the suite would have a traditional power outlet and USB ports.

In a reverse herringbone configuration, each private suite has wall partitions, a sliding door and direct aisle access – a first for such a high-density seating configuration.

Other features include a single-piece tray table for dining, side storage compartment that can be independently heated or chilled, and an OLED display on the exterior wall that can show custom messages for flight attendants or fellow travellers.