Unum , a UK-based manufacturer of aircraft business class seats, has raised £3.5 million.
Founded in 2020 by a team with decades of experience in cabin product and seat development, Unum Aircraft Seating develops lie-flat seats that 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 speed up time to market.
Unum recently received regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and moved its operations to a new London Gatwick factory facility.
Airline seats constitute 10 per cent of an aircraft's operating weight, and optimising in-flight cabin weight can generate fuel savings of 0.65-0.85 per cent . Unum's seats weigh 79 kg compared to the industry average of 110kg.
The company 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.
Chris Brady, CEO of Unum Aircraft Seating, said:
"We set up Unum to provide much needed capacity to the business class seating sector. 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."
ACF Investors participated in the funding. According to Tim Mills, Managing Partner at ACF Investors:
"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."
The funding will support Unum's R&D and help expand its sales pipeline within the airline industry.
Lead image: Unum. Photo: uncredited.