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Italian Avio Interiors set to refurbish Air India's Boeing fleet

June 12, 2006 10:56 IST

The brand new Boeing aircraft of national flag carrier Air-India will have unique seats embodied by Greek mythological heroes.

Air-India has selected Italian interior major Avio Interiors to install first, business and economy class seats on board of 23 B777s and economy class seats of 18 B737-800 aircraft.

Avio Interiors will install specially designed seats for Air-India carrying the names of Greek mythological legends such as Persues, Centaurus and Phoenix.

The Italian major is also planning a new model of first class seats, confirmed S Venkat, company secretary, Air-India. According to sources, top people were invited to finalise the selection of seats from various walks of life.

"The selection was done by tying the eyes to get the real feel and suggestion for improvement," they added.

Air-India has already informed the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing Company of the selection of Avio Interiors. This seat installation deal is estimated at over Rs 225 crore (Rs 2.25 billion).

"The seat manufacturer is designing special new model seats for first class of eight 777-200LR and 15 B777-300ER. While business class seats will be of Persues for 23 Boeing 777s," a source said.

Persues, in the name of a Greek mythological hero, is an electrically controlled seat with a back recline mechanism and a folding and sliding front legrest. These seats will have a four-way adjustable headrest.

The economy class seats will be of Centaurus, who is half-man, half-horse, and considered to be the inventor of medicine. These seats will have a porter hydraulic recline lock and mechanical control with fireblocked foam bottom cushion.

The seats of 18 B737-800 aircraft of Air-India's low-fare subsidiary Air-India Express will be of Phoenix. Phoenix is a legendary bird, which was reborn from its own ashes.

"Phoenix seats have front and rear track fitting anti-rattle device with positive locking shear pin. It is having multiposition adjustable rear footrest with floatation bottom cushion," sources added.

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P R Sanjai in Mumbai
Source: source image