What Unum Aircraft Seating does

Unum Aircraft Seating Limited is a UK-based private manufacturer of business class aircraft seats, founded in 2020 and headquartered in a dedicated design, engineering, certification, and production facility at One Kelvin Lane, Crawley, near London Gatwick Airport. The company sells two core seat families — Unum One, an outward-facing herringbone lie-flat seat available in widebody and narrowbody variants, and Unum Two, a forward-facing staggered lie-flat seat — both built around the patented Scimitar seat mechanism, a kinematic system that delivers infinite adjustability, a Zero-G "Lazy Z" position, lumbar support, and a full-height footwell. Supporting products include Door 2.0 (an origami-inspired privacy door developed with MGR Foamtex), Ecoprint Refoam (a 3D-printed variable-density cushion), and through-life support services anchored on on-wing Line Replaceable Unit replacement. The company holds CAA Part 21G Production Organisation Approval, Part 21 Design Organisation Approval, AS9100D, ISO 14001:2015, and a Technical Standard Order Authorisation, with a second TSO application in progress.

Unum generates revenue primarily through direct B2B hardware sales of business class seats and associated customisation and through-life support to commercial airlines and aircraft leasing companies. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated per programme, with the company explicitly targeting small-fleet operators and short-flow transitions as an underserved segment of the market. The go-to-market model is enterprise field sales led by a VP of Business Development, supported by trade-show presence at Aircraft Interiors Expo, RedCabin, and World Aviation Festival, by VR and comfort-experience demonstrations at The Comfort Store showroom, and by direct engagement with airline procurement and cabin programme teams. As of April 2025, Unum had announced its first two commercial customers — Wamos Air for Unum One seats on A330-200 aircraft and TAAG Angola Airlines for Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class seating — with first deliveries scheduled for 2026, and the company remained pre-revenue while continuing to raise capital (Feb 2023 with Origin Capital and LCIF2, £3.5M in July 2024 from ACF Investors, and an over-subscribed round in January 2025).

Name

Unum Aircraft Seating

Legal name

Unum Aircraft Seating Limited

Website

https://unum.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Unum Aircraft Seating is a UK-based manufacturer of lightweight business class aircraft seats (Unum One herringbone and Unum Two staggered), selling directly to commercial airlines and aircraft lessors via patented Scimitar seat mechanism technology, with first deliveries to Wamos Air and TAAG Angola scheduled for 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aircraft Seating / Aerospace Cabin Interiors

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Aircraft & Parts (3720)

akta.pro primary industry

Aerospace Interior Materials & Components (Cabin) (IMABANAI)

Keywords

• Aircraft seating manufacturing
• Business class seats
• Airline cabin interiors
• Premium aircraft seating
• Commercial aviation seating

Headquarters

HQ city

Weybridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Seat Hardware Sales: Direct sale of business class aircraft seats (Unum One herringbone, Unum Two staggered) to airlines and leasing companies. Revenue generated from seat sales, customisation options, and through-life support services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Unum Aircraft Seating designs, manufactures, and supplies business class aircraft seats for commercial airlines and aircraft leasing companies. Its core product families are the Unum One outward-facing herringbone seat and the Unum Two forward-facing staggered seat, both built around the patented Scimitar seat mechanism and available in widebody and narrowbody variants. The company also delivers the Door 2.0 Zen Door privacy solution, Ecoprint Refoam 3D-printed cushions, and through-life support services targeting a lightweight, sustainable, modular seating value proposition.

Product overview

Unum Aircraft Seating is a UK-based manufacturer of business class aircraft seats offering two main seat families: Unum One (outward-facing herringbone layout) and Unum Two (forward-facing staggered layout). Both seat families feature the proprietary Scimitar seat mechanism and are available in widebody and narrowbody variants. The company's approach combines smart modular design for easier customisation, maintenance and upgrade with a focus on sustainability through lightweight construction and end-of-life recyclability. Unum also offers additional products including Door 2.0 privacy doors and Ecoprint Refoam cushions, supported by through-life support services and sustainability initiatives as the first seating manufacturer member of the Green Cabin Alliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Unum One Herringbone Unum's first business class seat family offering an outward-facing herringbone layout with full lie-flat bed, direct aisle access, and the patented Scimitar mechanism. Available for both widebody (A330/B777/B787) and single-aisle (A321, B737) aircraft, sold to commercial airlines and leasing companies for premium cabin configurations.
• Unum Two Staggered Forward-facing staggered business class seat for widebody aircraft offering an alternating mix of sociable and private seats, 21.5 inch width, direct aisle access, superior living space, privacy door option, and the patented Scimitar mechanism. Targets commercial airlines seeking high-density premium cabins with maximum comfort at minimum weight.
• Door 2.0 (The Zen Door) Lightweight, origami-inspired privacy door solution for business class seating, co-developed with MGR Foamtex. The patented design offers privacy at significantly lighter weight than conventional solutions while maintaining elegance, sustainability and ease of certification.
• Ecoprint Refoam Aircraft cushion offering programmable comfort through variable density 3D printing, achieving up to 20% weight reduction versus traditional foam, streamlined manufacturing without manual foam bonding, and ease of end-of-life recyclability. Targets airlines seeking lighter, more sustainable business class cabin products.
• Through-Life Support Comprehensive after-sales support service for the duration of the seat's flying life, including spare parts management, on-wing Line Replaceable Unit replacement capability, and ongoing engagement with airline cabin maintenance crews worldwide. Provided to commercial airline customers of Unum One and Unum Two seats.
• Small Fleet and Short Leadtime Support Targeted service offering for airlines and leasing companies with small fleet programmes and short flow transitions that incumbent suppliers decline. Provides agile delivery and service capability for projects refused or under-served by larger seating suppliers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lie-flat seats weigh 79kg compared to industry average of 110kg, offering significant fuel savings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and minor.

• Sabeti Wain AerospacestrategicTechnology or IntegrationInteriors and upholstery specialist with close to 40 years' experience. Family business renowned for high level of craftsmanship. Technical Director Nick Wain has worked closely with Chris Brady for many years.
• SCHROTH Safety ProductsstrategicTechnology or Integration75-year-old company providing seatbelts and restraint systems for commercial airlines, business aircraft, rotorcraft, and general aviation. Also provides restraints for space flight operators including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic.
• Buhler Motor Aviation GmbHstrategicTechnology or IntegrationSystem supplier specialist in aircraft seating. Provides PAXCOM electrical seat actuation system offering complete solution for integrated seat adjustment to sophisticated technical standards.
• MGR FoamtexstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development partner for Door 2.0 - The Zen Door. Partnership produced lightweight origami-inspired privacy solution that won RedCabin Trinity Award.
• Acumen Design AssociatesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of world's most highly regarded industrial designers with more than 50 seating projects under their belt. Partnership created products with exceptional comfort and class-leading efficiency.
• Green Cabin AlliancestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity interest company founded in 2022 advocating for decarbonisation of aircraft cabin design, manufacture and supply. Unum is first seating manufacturer member. Alliance aims to bring together organisations involved in cabin product lifecycle to identify sustainability strategies.
• Boeing Global ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCabin integration partner for TAAG Angola Airlines Boeing 787 programme. Handling integration of Unum One seats into aircraft cabin.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unum-aircraft-seating
• Xx.com/seatingunum

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unum Aircraft Seating