AA Cuts Ties With Seat-Maker Over “Unacceptable” Delays
Erica Berardi September 25, 2015
American has fired its lie-flat seat producer due to delivery delays.
Citing delivery delays, American Airlines has cancelled all Zodiac Aerospace Group’s lie-flat seat orders and filed a petition against the French supplier in a Texas Court.
“Zodiac is far behind schedule and continues to cause significant delays to our plans to improve the travel experience for our customers,” American spokeswoman Laura Nedbal told Bloomberg, explaining that the airline had canceled all future orders for Zodiac seats on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and some 777-200s.
American’s move underscores the rift with Zodiac over a shortage of flat-bed seats, creating a delay in Boeing completion of the airplanes and slowing handovers of American’s 787s. Since, late 2014, Zodiac has struggled to meet surging demand for the upscale compartments used on overseas flights.
“Zodiac Seats’ legal advisors are reviewing the filing; meanwhile, the teams are in discussion with American Airlines to assess the possibility of a negotiated issue. ” Zodiac said in a statement released Friday. “Zodiac Seats regrets this situation, especially since the revised delivery agenda established a few months ago, was met.”
American filed the petition against Zodiac subsidiary Zodiac Seats U.S. LLC in the District Court of Tarrant County Texas. In an email statement to FlyerTalk, American wrote:
American has started looking for a new vendor to supply Business Class seats for our B787-9 aircraft and the remainder of our B777-200 retrofit aircraft. Zodiac has not been able to deliver new seats in a timely fashion according to the terms of its contract.
Our Business Suite supplied by Zodiac is an excellent product with good reviews, but the seats are far behind schedule and continue to cause significant delays to our plans to improve the travel experience for our customers.
We’re confident that selecting a new vendor now will provide enough time for our partners to install a new seat-type on the B787-9, which is scheduled for delivery in 2016.
American has filed suit in Tarrant County, asking the court to award damages caused by Zodiac’s inability to deliver Business Class seats in a timely manner.
Zodiac Aerospace Group and its subsidiaries manufacture aerospace equipment and safety systems for aircraft, helicopters and air transport and cabin interior equipment for commercial, regional and business aircraft.
[Photo: American Airlines]
If they also are responsible for the entertainment system good move, 1/2 the time the remotes don't work!
Bad news for Zodiac. Hopefully good news for AA passengers. AA please make sure your new selection is somewhat cushioned & does not shift & shake when the connecting seat person moves or gets out of their seat. The 787 is a amazing plane & it should have amazing seats. On a side note: What's with the retrofit 767 biz seats fold out trays? I flew recently and it was limp like a wet noodle!
Good move. Those seats are supremely uncomfortable in the flat position and without a mattress pad.