Designed to perform.
Engineered to deliver.
OUR EXPERTISE
We innovate with intention
Every new design, every engineering breakthrough, starts with one question: can we deliver this - 100% of the time?
Grounded in delivery
Our first question on meeting a new customer or receiving a new brief is: can we deliver? Not only on time and on budget but to expectation of quality, comfort and longevity.
Engineering first
Our engineering expertise is at the heart of what makes us Thompson. Our engineers are among the best in the world and in the industry. Even the members of the team who are not engineers tend to have an enquiring engineer’s mind.
Built in partnership
Everything we produce is built in partnership. We work with the airlines, with their ethos and with their passengers in mind. We work in collaboration with the airlines and with design houses and suppliers to ensure the best from all that we do.
Designed for the cabin
Each of our seats is configurable to the precise dimensions of its intended cabin. We maximise cabin real estate making the most of every single inch available.
Our approach
Grounded in delivery
Engineering first
Built in partnership
Designed for the cabin
OUR EXPERTISE
Where we innovate
From concept to certification, our work spans every part of the cabin experience.
Optimising cabin real estate
Maximising space efficiency without compromising comfort, privacy or accessibility.
Human-centric design
Designing around real passenger behaviour — from rest and work to movement and storage.
Bespoke product development
Every programme is engineered to meet the specific needs of each airline and aircraft.
Customisation through collaboration
Working closely with customers to shape layouts, finishes and features that differentiate their cabin.
Full lifecycle support
Supporting each product from initial concept through certification, manufacture and in-service performance.
From three-point restraints to suite doors, from relaxed TTL positions to ground-up single-aisle platforms — we’ve pioneered features that have become industry standard.
Ingenuity
First to Market
We don’t follow industry direction — we help define it.
First Vantage concept
Year
2005
First Vantage concept
The first design concept of the fully horizontal flat-bed Vantage seat by James Thompson with manufacture under licence to Delta Air Lines and SWISS.
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First customer
Year
2010
First customer
BMI became the first customer for the ground-breaking Vantage seat.
Production facility
Year
2011
Production facility
Thompson's first production facility was secured in Northern Ireland.
Brussels Airlines
Year
2012
Brussels Airlines
The first aircraft to be fitted with Vantage seats.
JetBlue
Year
2013
JetBlue
The Vantage seating configuration meant the JetBlue A321 was the first to be fitted with suite doors.
Thompson VantageXL
Year
2015
Thompson VantageXL
The Vantage seating configuration meant the JetBlue A321 was the first to be fitted with suite doors.
Acquisition
Year
2016
Acquisition
Seeing its huge potential, AVIC completed the purchase of Thompson Aero Seating.
Delta One
Year
2017
Delta One
Entry into service for the VantageXL suite with Delta
First Class for Free
Year
2017
First Class for Free
First integrated first-and-buisness-class cabin
Crystal Cabin Award
Year
2017
Crystal Cabin Award
Delivery of the Delta One A30 Thompson VantageXL Suite, the first all-suite business-class cabin and a Crystal Cabin winner.
VantageSOLO
Year
2018
VantageSOLO
The first seat for single-aisle aircraft with direct-aisle access and a fully horiontal flat bed.
Delta
Year
2019
Delta
The first A330 with all cabin suite-door installation, thanks to the VantageXL seat.
VantageSOLO for JetBlue
Year
2020
VantageSOLO for JetBlue
JetBlue takes delivery of the first VantageSOLO, a ground breaking full-flat, all direct-aisle access business class seat specifically for single-aisle aircraft.
VantageDUO
Year
2021
VantageDUO
Fully relaxed without being fully flat, the VantageDUO is a ground breaking new seat that offers maximum comfort to the long range, single-aisle market, with no compromise on density.
Dynamic Test Facility
Year
2023
Dynamic Test Facility
A major investment in a world-lass facility that will catapult Thompson Aero Seating into a new era of development, innovation, and sustainability.
VantageNOVA
Year
2024
VantageNOVA
The launch of our first angled seat for tin-aisle aircraft. The VantageNOVA offers flexible density and luxurious comfort, with an outboard choice of herringbone or reverse herringbone.
A321 XLR
Year
2024
A321 XLR
The world's first A21 XLR takes flight featuring our VantageSOLO: the perfect choice for single-aisle long and extra-long-range aircraft.
2005
2005
First Class
Our dynamic test facility
A £7.5 million investment enabling in-house testing - and a step change in how we develop and deliver our products. As the only dynamic test facility on the island of Ireland, it allows us to certify new designs without leaving the factory, accelerating development, reducing risk and ensuring every product is engineered for real-world performance.
In-house certification
Reproduce full-scale crash conditions on site to certify new products for airworthiness.
Faster development cycles
No need to travel to the US or Europe for testing, shortening programme timelines.
Optimised performance
Explore innovative, lightweight seating solutions that reduce weight and carbon footprint.
Reduced programme risk
On-site research, design, development, testing and verification in one purpose-built centre.
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Seat
Detail
A precisely engineered personal environment that brings workspace, dining surface and intelligent storage into a single, sculpted form. The integrated side console is designed to maximise usability within a compact footprint, balancing generous surface area with efficient cabin planning.
Seamlessly integrated dining and work surface
A stable, generously proportioned surface designed for both productivity and premium in-flight dining.
Concealed storage and power access
Integrated compartments and concealed connectivity points keep essentials accessible while maintaining a clean, refined aesthetic.
Aviation-grade materials and finishes
Lightweight, durable components engineered for longevity, maintainability and consistent in-service performance.
Footrest
Detail
A precisely engineered personal environment that brings workspace, dining surface and intelligent storage into a single, sculpted form. The integrated side console is designed to maximise usability within a compact footprint, balancing generous surface area with efficient cabin planning.
Seamlessly integrated dining and work surface
A stable, generously proportioned surface designed for both productivity and premium in-flight dining.
Concealed storage and power access
Integrated compartments and concealed connectivity points keep essentials accessible while maintaining a clean, refined aesthetic.
Aviation-grade materials and finishes
Lightweight, durable components engineered for longevity, maintainability and consistent in-service performance.
Industrial Design
Designed differently
Our Industrial Design team's work has been described as 'like nothing else in the industry” - combining creativity with engineering to shape how our seats look, feel and function.
Reuben
“Designing something that starts as a sketch and ends up flying on an aircraft is an incredible feeling — it’s why I became an engineer.”
Role
Mechanical Design Engineer
Reuben is part of the design team, turning ideas into reality.
Tony
Role
Senior Design Engineer
Creates innovative solutions for the next generation of aircraft seating.
Robson
Role
Senior Design Engineer
Turns complex customer requirements into elegant, practical designs.
OUR DIRECT CONTACTS
Our approvals
The Thompson seating range is available across all Airbus (A320F, A330, A350 and A380) and Boeing (B737, B757, B767, B777 and B787) platforms.
CAA 21G Approval
UK.21G.2638
CAA P145 Approval
UK.145.01290
FAA 145 Approval
6TOY336C
EASA 145 Approval
EASA.145.3197
AS 9100 Rev D Certification
FM 540498
APDOA Approval
UK.AP0305
ISO 14001 Certification
GB21/969262
An inspired flying experience, powered by people.
