Stelia Aerospace, the cabin interior brand of Airbus Atlantic, has put the wheels in motion to double its production capacity and bolster employee count to meet soaring demand for premium aircraft seats.

Known for its elegant design aesthetic and for providing some of the industry’s most advanced first and business class seats, Stelia’s manufacturing plant in Rochefort, France is currently capable of producing over 5,000 premium seats per year.

But with demand from airlines “very high,” and overall industry capacity “limited,” Stelia has been ramping up, and expects to double its production capacity by 2027, company strategic product marketing director – cabin interiors Lydie Blanqué told RGN at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg.

“We also have a hiring plan in place to gather some additional expertise and be able to supply the market,” Blanqué said.

Boasting more than 50 customers, Stelia is today “obliged to say ‘no’ sometimes” to work packages “because we are absolutely focused to deliver on time and on quality. That’s our main goal,” Blanqué confided.

The seatmaker used the occasion of AIX to showcase several key products in its portfolio including its popular OPERA family of herringbones: SA for single-aisle aircraft, WB for widebodies and the lightweight, eco-friendly Essential.

Within the OPERA line, over 4,500 seats across ten customers and six aircraft platforms are flying.

Etihad and ITA Airways are among the customers of OPERA SA, an outward-facing herringbone that offers significant privacy, a wide full-flat bed, and a retractable aisle armrest that ensures easy access.

Three years after Stelia first revealed it would make a play for the widebody herringbone market with its OPERA WB doored mini-suites, this year marked a major milestone for the firm as its 1,500th OPERA WB took to the skies.

Air France is in the process of rolling out OPERA WB on its Airbus A350s.

The seatmaker also showcased its latest iteration of Rendez-Vous, the premium staggered seat whose seatback is fully integrated into the structure to create both a sofa effect and accommodate a more flush double bed for those seated in the honeymoon configuration.

Trying the seat, your 6’1″ author was particularly impressed by the vast expanse available to spread out, and indeed Rendez-Vous’ sizable footwell.

“You know, facing forward, you often struggle with the space in the feet area. So this one is really nice,” Blanqué noted.

Stelia has a strong roster of clients in Europe and the Middle East and the Asia market is exploding. Cracking into the Americas represents an opportunity for the Airbus Atlantic unit, which received positive feedback from U.S. airlines who attended AIX.

By doubling its production capacity in 2027, the seatmaker will be better positioned to meet current and future market demand for business and first class seats.

In the meantime, it’s understandable why this producer of high-end seats is loath to over-promise and under-deliver.

“We don’t take too many projects at the same time. We are cautious to be able to deliver proper results,” Blanqué said.

Related Articles:

• Thompson explores dedicated first and super first class for airlines
• Airbus enters preliminary work to offer lie-flats on the A220
• Inside an A350-optimized Unum Two seat, as revealed at AIX
• How SIMONA Boltaron meets airline aesthetic standards with Terreform
• Airbus enters development phase for ultra-luxe First Class Experience 
• VIDEO: RECARO reveals AI-powered seat control for R7 premium seat
• After impressive Elevated reveal, United surprises with basic tier
• Air France’s new Stelia first class: a paragon of elegant simplicity
• Lightweight Stelia Opera Essential seat asks hard questions in biz
• Stelia reveals Opera herringbone for Air France A350, linefit 787s

Featured image credited to Stelia