Vitra has manufactured furniture designs by Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson since 1957. Building on this foundation over the years, the company has developed a wide range of furnishings for the office, the home and public spaces in collaboration with progressive designers.

Modular airport seats

The interplay of aesthetic value and robust longevity is the key to Vitra’s ability to furnish public spaces with long-lasting quality furniture, including airport seats.

This is observed in the many airports equipped with Eames tandem seating, a design by Charles and Ray Eames from 1962. It is further evident from our recent collaboration with Norman Foster – who is renowned, among other accomplishments, for the design of several new international airports – on the development of AIRLINE, a modular seating system for waiting areas.

Modular tandem seating systems

Charles and Ray Eames originally designed their tandem seating for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in 1962. The design of this seating system is based on their aluminium group chairs.

Norman Foster's AIRLINE flexible and robust waiting area seating system at Munich Airport.

Eames modular tandem seating was designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1962.

AIRLINE waiting area seating system (made of polyurethane integral foam).

A wooden AIRLINE modular seating system.

We have AIRLINE seating systems at London Heathrow Airport's T5.

Tandem seating is a robust, modular system enabling comfortable and relaxed seating at airports. It is designed to withstand an exceptional level of wear-and-tear. The resilient seat and back upholstery can be exchanged on-site. The generous seat surface and the sandwich structure of the upholstery offer great seating comfort. The simple modular system enables the units to be added together at will or linked with table-tops to form an enclosed configuration.

Waiting area seating systems

The Vitra airport division specialises in waiting areas. This team offers consultant services, develops plans for all types of waiting areas and implements these plans with Vitra products, including airport seats.

AIRLINE is a flexible and robust waiting area seating system. The basic principle is an extruded aluminium beam which rests on die-cast aluminium feet. The seating elements, armrests and table tops can be swiftly and simply assembled, disassembled and rearranged (using a single screwdriver). The advantages of AIRLINE airport seats are highly economical use of space and great flexibility.

AIRLINE is easy to clean and look after, fulfilling the requirements made of seating systems for public areas: all materials are fire-resistant and GS and BIFMA certified. Through their clear, aesthetical lines, AIRLINE airport seats adorn gates and terminals of many major airports worldwide such as Munich, Porto, Toronto, Hyderabad, Abu Dhabi, Bangalore, Singapore Changi, London Heathrow (T5), and many more.

Customised airport seats

Vitra offers comprehensive assistance to the customer in the form of spatial planning, specification of products, project management and after-sales services. The airport division team can work with all CADs provided by the customer. In addition to our standard products and systems, Vitra also offers customised solutions in order to fully meet the specific needs of our clients.