As part of its ongoing fleet modernisation,\u00a0China\u00a0Southern\u00a0Airlines is introducing new A350-900 and A321NX aircraft \u2013 two dual flagship models designed to elevate the passenger experience to unprecedented levels. These new aircraft will also herald a new interiors palette that will change the overall look, feel and brand image for the Chinese carrier. <\/p>\n The airline has opted to use London-based studio Tangerine to designing the interiors of 10 A350-900 aircraft and the 20 new generation A321NX. Unlike the airline\u2019s current wide-body interiors, these new wide-bodies will feature private suites. Although the press release doesn\u2019t say if they will be marketed as \u2018Business Studios\u2019 or First Class cabins. In total the new A350-900 cabins will feature 4 of these private cabins, 24 independent business class seats and 307 economy class seats, while the A321NX will have 12 business class seats and 171 economy class seats.\u00a0<\/p>\n Unlike the Recaro seats currently on the A350, the airline has opted for the slightly larger brand new Thompson Vantage XL+ seats which are an enhanced, wider version of the existing XL seats from the Northern Irish seat manufacturer. The VantageXL+<\/sup>\u00a0is the newest iteration of the hugely popular VantageXL, launched at AIX this year, now perfectly optimised to fit the precise dimensions of the A350 and B787 fuselages.<\/p>\n In the background Thompson had already begun development of the VantageXL+<\/sup>\u00a0and with\u00a0China\u00a0Southern\u00a0looking to add A350s to its fleet, Thompson was pleased to offer\u00a0China\u00a0Southern\u00a0the opportunity to benefit from the development work that had already begun, meaning that the carrier has officially become the launch customer. <\/p>\n Keith Anderson, CEO of Thompson Aero Seating, says: \u201cWe are delighted to announce\u00a0China\u00a0Southern\u00a0as the first customer of our VantageXL+<\/sup>. We have worked in close collaboration with the airline team to bring to life what started as a spark of an idea. Our philosophy at Thompson is always to enhance and evolve our seats and\u00a0China\u00a0Southern\u00a0has been a great partner in enabling us to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to the private cabins, Thompson\u2019s VantageXL+<\/sup>\u00a0First suites enable a first-class experience at the same passenger density as an all-business-class cabin. The bed length in this front row is an impressive 80.8\u201d and the companion seats and dropping dividers provide stunning opportunities for two or even four people to socialise and dine together.\u00a0<\/p>\n But what is different between the well-known VantageXL and the XL+<\/sup> seats? Firstly, the design teams have managed to re-sculpt the internal walls and footwells to provide greater legroom and increase knee clearance. The IFE screen has also been repositioned giving almost 3 additional inches distance from the passenger and screen, helping increase the feeling of space.<\/p>\n Weiwei He, Director at Tangerine, says: \u201cThe new interior design will evoke a distinctly oriental theme, highlighting\u00a0China\u00a0Southern\u2019s core brand values of \u2018affinity\u2019 and \u2018refinement.\u2019 Our goal is to create a cabin interior that resonates with passengers worldwide while proudly celebrating\u00a0China\u00a0Southern\u00a0Airlines\u2019 rich cultural heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n To ensure a seamless in-flight entertainment experience that complements the new cabin interior, Tangerine has tailored the graphical user interface (GUI), creating a cohesive brand journey and a more enjoyable flight for passengers.<\/p>\n Yongchao Zeng, Executive Vice President at\u00a0China\u00a0Southern\u00a0says: \u201cWe are very excited to be launching the VantageXL+<\/sup>\u00a0and to be able to offer our customers a seat that really is the best of the best. The enhanced front row adds an extra element to the flight experience, and we are delighted to be able to offer this option.\u201d The first of\u00a0China\u00a0Southern\u2019s new fleet of A350s is expected to be delivered in Q4 2026.<\/p>\n![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/thedesignair.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/a350-fc_2.jpg\")
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