Acro Aircraft Seating to supply Spirit Airlines of the USA with 30 shipsets of its Superlight seat

UK-based passenger aircraft seat manufacturer Acro Aircraft Seating has signed an agreement with leading US ultra low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines to supply 30 shipsets of its Superlight seat. The deal which is worth an estimated £6M marks the company’s second major US client and equates to 5000 economy class seats including retrofitting five Spirit Airlines’ Airbus A319 aircraft this spring and installation on 25 new A321 and A320 deliveries from 2015.

Distinguished by their light weight, low part count and robust design, Acro’s seats fulfill the specific requirements needed by commercial carriers like Spirit Airlines in order to comply with the demands of the airline seat market (which requires comfort, cost effectiveness, reliability and ease of maintenance). In addition to passenger comfort, Acro’s seats offer a short lead time of only 16 weeks, increased leg room and a reduction of maintenance costs due to a robust, modular and easy-clean structure. In addition the seats provide significant weight saving over other manufactured seats helping operators reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions. The weight saving benefit is highly appealing to Florida-based Spirit Airlines who aim to be one of the most environmentally friendly US carriers in operation.

Cameron Allan, Commercial Director at Acro, comments: “The US market is a major part of Acro’s growth strategy and we’re delighted to be further expanding our American presence by working in partnership with Spirit Airlines. We share a view that simplicity in our business brings lower costs and more straightforward experience to our customers and we are therefore a good fit.”

This latest news follows a hugely successful 2013 for Acro with contract wins to supply 3000 seats to an undisclosed US carrier as well as to Braathens Regional for 13 Saab 340/2000 aircraft, South Africa’s Mango Airlines for eight Boeing 737-800s and KLM Cityhopper for 26 Fokker F70s.