January 6, 2025

VantageNOVA: the latest star of the show for Thompson

Launch news:
Thompson Aero Seating officially launches the much-anticipated VantageNOVA, an innovative,
premium angled seat for twin-aisle aircraft. The VantageNOVA is the newest addition to the highly
successful Vantage seating family.

Image release:
Official images of the VantageNOVA have now been released into the public domain for the first time.

Ross Burns, Head of Industrial Design for Thompson Aero Seating, says: “The VantageNOVA is
Thompson’s first angled twin-aisle offering, bringing together our extensive knowledge of twin-aisle
products with the experience from our VantageSOLO angled seat for the single-aisle market. We
have developed the VantageNOVA from the ground-up to be totally passenger-centred, coupled with
an emphasis on ‘residential’ style-cues and exceedingly high comfort levels. The design team has
spent many hours sculpting the surfaces to form an elegant and sophisticated silhouette.”

The VantageNOVA: optimise, configure, customise:
Offerable from only a 40” pitch, the VantageNOVA allows the cabin to be optimised to the passenger
demographic. Flexibility and adaptation are key, allowing airlines to explore the many different
features of VantageNOVA. The outboard column can be configured to herringbone or reverse
herringbone, together with the centre double reverse-herringbone seats. The platform has been
designed to be customised by the airline with choices across key zones, such as consoles, feature
lights and upper stowages.

Ryan Graham, Principal Designer of Strategic Development at Thompson Aero Seating says:
“The impetus for the development of the VantageNOVA platform was to explore the wider twin-aisle
platforms to achieve a seat-offering with a pitch as low as 40”, without compromising on the
passenger experience. Through the careful crafting of the 40” living space however, we achieved
more than just a great high-density product. The efficiencies found at 40” are only amplified at more
premium pitch ranges, offering a very compelling new product, wherever our customers choose to
position it. This large pitch range, coupled with the choice between herringbone and reverseherringbone
on the outboards, offers our customers the most freedom of choice and maximises our
ability to meet any specific requirements we encounter with the VantageNOVA platform.”

Celebrations at Thompson:
With key media quickly picking up on the news of the official launch of the VantageNOVA,
celebrations took place back in Northern Ireland with the whole company marking this significant next
milestone in Thompson’s journey.

VantageNOVA Seat Configuration

Overhung doors
New ‘slimline’ single-skin overhung doors maximise the passenger interior living space.

Thoughtful amenities
There are preconfigured stowages with both open and closed storage options, a large bi-fold table
and a customisable console area. The centre seat-pairs feature a full-width privacy screen. Wireless
charging and a wide range of outlet options are provided, along with in-suite mood lighting and IFE
monitors up to 24”.

Perfect positioning
The seats are also available with a Zero-G position, tilting and lowering the body while raising the
legs, the most relaxing position for the heart.

Pivotal thinking
The VantageNOVA includes pivoting monitors, which in addition to offering gate-to-gate IFE also
allow the passenger to configure the space to their own needs, maximising the volume in the suite
while working on a laptop, viewing their device or sleeping.

Outbound herringbone highlights
With the herringbone configuration for the outboard column (adjacent to the window), the passenger
is positioned away from the aisle for further privacy, together with an extended sleeping surface.

Outbound reverse herringbone highlights
Facing away from the aisle, the dropping armrest allows passengers to customise their own space,
including an extended console surface and additional stowages.

Certification
With a launch customer already secured, Thompson is currently well progressed for the first delivery
in 2026. Testing will take place at Thompson’s own on-site Dynamic Test Facility, reducing
development time and increasing sustainability.

Premium front row – ‘first class for free’
One of Thompson’s iconic industry innovations was the ‘First Class for Free’ concept introduced
nearly ten years ago. Now a well and truly established Thompson signature product, VantageNOVA
also includes this option, allowing airlines the opportunity to provide enhanced front rows offering a
first-class/business-class-plus experience at the same density as the rest of the business-class cabin.
First unveiled at the 2024 Hamburg Aircraft Interiors Expo, many customers commented that this seat
was the star of the entire Show, and an official launch will begin in time for AIX 2025.

Andy Morris, Chief Commercial Officer for Thompson Aero Seating, says: “This is a hugely
exciting time for Thompson. The new VantageNOVA has created a massive buzz and the timing
could not be better as the industry rebounds post-pandemic, with unprecedented orders for twin-aisle
aircraft. The programme with our launch customer is progressing well, and discussions are ongoing
with several other potential customers keen to discuss the options and discover how they and their
passengers could benefit from this innovative seat”.