Seat Certification Delays Disrupt Global Aircraft Deliveries

Aviation regulators are causing significant operational and financial disruptions for airlines and manufacturers by delaying the safety certification of complex business-class seats. The Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency require rigorous testing to ensure that seats featuring sliding doors do not impede emergency evacuations.

These hurdles have forced carriers to adopt makeshift solutions. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Air India have operated flights with business-class doors locked open, while KLM plans to launch Airbus A350 flights with all 34 business-class seats empty. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg warned investors that these certification delays have made aircraft deliveries lumpy, specifically impacting jets intended for Riyadh Air.

While Boeing and Airbus have offered pre-certified seating options to avoid these delays, many airlines continue to demand custom designs to differentiate their premium offerings. Elevate Aircraft Seating, a Boeing subsidiary, has struggled to secure approvals for its door designs across multiple airlines, noting that the certification process remains inconsistent even for designs already in flight.