AIX 2025: Thompson Aero Seating to Provide Business-Class Seats for THAI’s A321neos; China Southern to Launch its VantageXL+ Product
Originally published on APEX
Thompson Aero Seating will provide business-class seats for THAI Airways’ (THAI) new Airbus A321neo fleet. In addition, the company announced that China Southern Airlines will be the launch customer for its new VantageXL+ product. The carrier will implement the seats on its upcoming A350 deliveries.
THAI’s A321neos will Offer an All-Round Premium Experience
During the 2025 Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), Thompson Aero Seating revealed that Bangkok-based THAI Airways has chosen the fully-flat Vantage business-class seat model for its new Airbus A321neos. The move will create a premium passenger experience consistent with its existing mainline fleet.
THAI’s A321neos will feature 16 Vantage seats across five rows, with each row alternating between a 2-2 and a 1-1 configuration. As such, a single ‘Throne’ seat will be located on alternate rows. These seats, which are already in service with a number of carriers on their A321neos, including TAP Air Portugal, Air Astana and Aer Lingus, will be customized for THAI to enhance passenger comfort.
The airline currently has 32 A321neos on order. They will each also feature free in-flight Wi-Fi provided by Neo Space Group, which is part of the SES Open Orbits network, and a new in-flight entertainment system to further enhance the passenger experience. The aircraft will primarily fly within Asia.
“It is a pleasure to be supplying our fabulous Vantage seats to THAI. We look forward to working closely as a team and are thrilled that the latest iteration of our flagship seat will be taking flight with them,” commented Thompson Aero Seating CEO Keith Anderson.
THAI hopes to expand its market share in the short- and medium-haul segments with its fleet of A321neos, the first of which is scheduled to be delivered in November 2025. Before May 2023, when the airline announced that it would merge with its subsidiary THAI Smile, THAI only operated wide-bodies.
Thompson Creates Vantage XL+ for A350, B787 Jets
In another announcement at the show, the UK-based manufacturer shared that China Southern Airlines will become the launch customer of the new Vantage XL+ seats on its upcoming Airbus A350 deliveries, which are slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The VantageXL+ is the latest iteration of Thompson’s Vantage XL seat, which was first introduced as a business class product in 2015. The VantageXL+ is optimized to fit the dimensions of the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 fuselages, and marks the first time Thompson has created a product that is tailored for either aircraft type. Anderson explained, “Our philosophy at Thompson is always to enhance and evolve our seats.”
The seats will be a 1-2-1 configuration, with each seat having a width of 24-inches and a bed length of 76.9-inches. New features of the VantageXL+ include expanded footwells and re-sculpted internal walls, which provide more legroom and increase knee clearance; refined suite top rails to enhance personal living space; and improved IFE monitor positioning that increases the viewing distance by 2.8-inches.
Interestingly, China Southern has also elected to include an enhanced front row as part of each ship set. Known as “First Suites,” they allow the airline to offer a first-class experience to passengers at the same passenger density as an all-business class cabin.
Seats in the first row will have a bed length of 80.8-inches, companion seats and dividers that drop, allowing anywhere from two to four people to dine and socialize together. The front row “adds an extra element to the flight experience,” according to China Southern Airlines’ EVP Yongchao Zeng.
The CMF was designed by Thompson, China Southern and style house Tangerine to reflect the brand identity of the airline.
