Aircraft Interiors Expo: Lufthansa Technik Presents the 'AeroKid'

At Aircraft Interiors Expo, the world's largest trade exhibition for aircraft interior design and cabin systems engineering, Lufthansa Technik has presented its 'AeroKid' product innovation. Developed by Lufthansa Technik's Innovation business unit, 'AeroKid' is the first fully integrated child seat for passenger airliners.

Its multifunctional concept enables a normal passenger seat to be quickly and easily transformed into a baby or child seat, making flights safe and comfortable for babies and children of all heights and age groups without having to install any additional equipment.

With this product, the Innovation business unit of Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg has managed to solve a long-standing logistical problem concerning child seats on board aircraft. Until now, they had to be provided either by the airline, the child's parents or accompanying adults. The new integrated 'AeroKid' concept, which features adjustable foot and arm rests and a seat area that can be lengthened or shortened, can be perfectly adapted to suit the individual heights of children aged from about 2 to 12. Special fasteners on either side of the seat offer the possibility of attaching and adjusting shoulder belts if required, in order to guarantee optimum safety for the child.

With the additional integration of a seat for babies and infants up to two years old, Lufthansa Technik engineers have managed to ensure that this age group, too, can enjoy significantly improved flight safety and enhanced comfort. This integrated baby seat unfolds out of the backrest, and can be fully extended to form a bed so that the infant or child can lie down comfortably and sleep, rather than having to sit throughout the entire journey. This unit, too, has two shoulder belts for additional safety.

Because an external child seat is no longer needed, 'AeroKid' greatly reduces the logistical effort required on the part of the airline and the parents concerned. It also significantly improves the safety aspect. Many child seats designed for cars are not compatible with passenger seats in aeroplanes and have not been tested for this particular use. The other current alternative - lap belts for infants, which are connected to adults' seatbelts - likewise provides much less safety than the 'AeroKid'.