Virgin Australia updates plane cabin features as the airline ramps up travel timetable

The airline is bringing its brand new cabins into the 21st century - adding a feature that will finally fix one of the most annoying things about flying.

You know when you’re on a plane, you’re watching some riveting show on your tablet and you can’t keep watching when your in-flight meal lands, because there’s nowhere to prop your device?

The good news is that may be a thing of the past if Virgin Australia’s “prototype interior of the future” is anything to go by, Escape reported.

The airline unveiled the shiny new cabins on their TikTok today (fun fact: it’s the first airline in the country to have an account on the platform).

@virginaustralia

New seat prototype. That’s my type. 💅 ##airline ##fyp ##avgeek ##aviation

♬ Team work (60 seconds) - TimTaj

In a behind-the-scenes video, the airline showed off its new Boeing 737-800 interior prototype, giving users a taste of the future in-flight experience.

Engineers can be seen unboxing brand-new seats before loading them on board, and buckling them down in preparation for the new-look cabin to take flight.

The cabin features a distinctive new horizontal rib design, 40 per cent more recline, (along with leg and foot rests) in Business Class, and convenient device holders accommodating everything from small smartphones to larger tablets throughout the cabin.

The device holders on Virgin’s new planes. Picture: Virgin Australia

The brackets hold everything from phones to iPads. Picture: Virgin Australia

The prototype design will initially be available on two of Virgin Australia’s new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, acquired as part of their fleet expansion last month.

New business class features

- 40 per cent extra ability to recline - adding an extra 18cm to your lean

- A customisable leg and footrest

- The cabin has been fitted with self-deployable, non-slip cocktail tables, perfect for a pre-departure bubbles

- Movable tray tables with in-built device holders – assisting in maximising space and usability during meal service

- Additional in seat storage cubbies for personal items, including a high-powered USB charging port

The business class seats recline 40 per cent more. Picture: Virgin Australia

New economy class features

- A seatback device holder, which accommodates everything from a small smartphone to a larger tablet, making the use of personal devices for entertainment in the air easier than it has ever been before

-They have changed the upper safety card and menu stowage, freeing up seat pocket space for the safekeeping of personal belongings

The new Virgin Australia cabin. Picture: Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia Group Chief Customer and Digital Officer, Paul Jones said the new interior added to a long list of customer enhancements the airline has rolled-out since relaunching almost 12 months ago.

“We are excited to unveil our new interior prototype which we are going to trial over the next few months,” he said.

“Virgin Australia is committed to being a customer-led business, so once we receive feedback from our guests and crew, we’ll consider implementing elements of the new design as our fleet grows”.

This article originally appeared on Escape and has been republished here with permission.