Unum Aircraft Seating, a UK-based manufacturer of business class seats, has raised €4.1 million with participation from ACF Investors. Founded in 2020 by a team with decades of experience in cabin product and seat development, Unum recently received regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and moved its operations to a new London Gatwick factory facility. The funding will enable Unum to accommodate business growth, expand its team, and further research and development of new manufacturing processes.
Chris Brady, CEO of Unum Aircraft Seating, said: “We want to be the most trusted aircraft seating supplier in the world and to set a new standard for passenger-focused and responsibly-made seats. This investment is a vote of confidence in our commitment to enhancing the passenger experience for business-class travellers.”
In a world where demand for business class seating is a rapidly growing segment of the airline interiors market, with a forecasted CAGR of 25%, Unum Aircraft Seating is providing smart, adaptable, and reliable design. Its lie-flat seats offer a wider, longer bed and more spacious side furniture within the same cabin, allowing airlines to cater to the growing business class market without sacrificing passenger capacity. The company’s integrated design and in-house manufacturing capabilities also speed up time to market — enabling it to address this growing demand.
Sustainability is also integral to Unum’s seating design. Airline seats constitute 10% of an aircraft’s operating weight, and optimising in-flight cabin weight can generate fuel savings of 0.65-0.85%. Unum’s seats weigh 79kg compared to the industry average of 110kg, offering a solution for lowering the industry’s fuel costs and emissions. Unum is the first airline seating company to commit to the Green Cabin Alliance, a cross-industry group advocating for the decarbonisation of the aircraft interior supply chain.
Tim Mills, Managing Partner at ACF Investors, added: “Chris is a proven leader in the airline interiors industry and his track record in founding and scaling aircraft seating businesses is second to none. We’re excited to back a true industry innovator, one that prioritises sustainability and customer comfort and is delivering such an exceptional product.”
