Unum announces partners for business class seat revolution

Unum Aircraft Seating is today announcing three partnerships with leading innovators in aircraft design and manufacturing – SabetiWain Aerospace, SCHROTH Safety Products, and Bühler Motor Aviation GmbH.

Unum launched in January 2022 to solve airlines’ longstanding dissatisfaction with business class seating supply and delayed delivery. To support this, Unum has carefully considered its supply chain strategy, building partnerships to cement its position as the credible and reliable alternative in airline seating.

Chris Brady, Executive Chairman and CEO, Unum, says: “At Unum, we want to be known for on time delivery for airlines and for extraordinary passenger experience, while also being a business ‘by people and for people’. To achieve this, we look for partners who share our values and want to do ‘good business’ with an open and honest company. This search has led us to the three fantastic industry leaders we’re announcing partnerships with today.”

Interiors and upholstery specialist Sabeti Wain Aerospace is a family business fuelled by a passion for quality, innovation and travel with close to 40 years’ experience in the industry, renowned for exceptionally high level of craftsmanship.

Nick Wain, technical director, Sabeti Wain Aerospace, says: “I have worked closely with Chris Brady for many years. His approach to business in the aviation industry, design ability and can-do attitude makes for an innovative and exciting working dynamic. Chris has brought with him many refreshing ideas for economy seating, and I am certain with Unum and the brilliant team he has built around him, they are heading towards great success in the business class category. We very much look forward to being involved.”

SCHROTH has just celebrated 75 years in business and provides seatbelts and restraint systems for leading commercial airlines, business aircraft, rotorcraft, and general aviation aircraft, as well as safety restraints used by space flight operators such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic.

Martin Nadol, CEO, SCHROTH Safety Products, says: “We are impressed with Unum’s quality of designing and manufacturing business class seats, and we are proud to collaborate with the team and serve as the preferred provider of occupant restraint systems.”

Bühler Motor is a system supplier and specialist in aircraft seating. The PAXCOM electrical seat actuation system offers a complete solution for integrated seat adjustment to the most sophisticated technical standards.

Dr. Lester Faleiro, managing director, Bühler Motor Aviation GmbH, adds: "For Bühler Motor, the business relationship is a great opportunity to partner a budding startup. We are proud to be part of the new seating platform. Unum has produced an exciting alternative in aircraft seating and redefines business class comfort with its smart, adaptable and reliable design. The Unum One family of lie flat business class seats provides a consistent passenger experience across single or twin-aisle aircraft, offering superior comfort and style.”

Unum has full lie-flat business class seating options for widebody and narrowbody aircraft enabling operators to deliver a consistent premium product across all fleets. Within a given cabin seat density, Unum One is wider and longer with more spacious side furniture than competitor seats, with customisation options available to airlines who wish to match their branding and cabin designs.