What Acro Aircraft Seating does

Acro Aircraft Seating Ltd. is a UK-headquartered designer and manufacturer of lightweight passenger seats for commercial aircraft, founded in 2006 and operating from a 100,000+ sq ft facility in Crick, Northamptonshire, with a second production base in Tiantai/Zhejiang, China and a North American sales office in Miami. Its product portfolio spans economy class (Series 6 and Series 9 families in Fixed Back, Recline, IFE, and Wide Body variants), premium economy (INNOVARES), and domestic business class (Series 7), all built on aluminium alloy structures with proprietary composite curved seatbacks. The flagship Series 9 platform achieves pax weights from 7.5 kg and 98.83% recyclability certified by AIRA, positioning Acro at the lightweight and sustainability end of the commercial seat market. Acro has been an Airbus A320-family line-fit supplier since 2017, was upgraded to Airbus Premium Supplier status in 2023, and holds line-fit or partnership status with Boeing, Saab, ATR, Fokker, and Deutsche Aircraft for OEM integration.

The company generates revenue through project-based hardware sales of seats delivered via two channels: direct line-fit contracts with aircraft OEMs (primarily Airbus) for new aircraft deliveries, and direct aftermarket sales to airlines for retrofit, replacement, and AcroCare spare-parts support. Customer mix spans low-cost carriers (FlySafair, Pegasus, Volotea, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, Jet2, flyadeal, Electra), full-service carriers (Condor, Finnair, Air New Zealand, Hawaiian, Etihad, Royal Air Maroc), and major aircraft lessors (BBAM, CDB Aviation, BOC Aviation, Air Lease Corporation, Aviation Capital Group). Pricing is quote-based and bespoke per configuration, aircraft type, customization, and order volume, and is not publicly disclosed. Acro was acquired in September 2017 by Zhejiang Tiancheng Zikong Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Stock Exchange, ticker 603085), which supplies Acro-designed parts from four dedicated factories; the company is operationally led from the UK by CEO Neil Cairns (appointed March 2020) and Executive Chairman Tom Plint (appointed May 2023).

Name

Acro Aircraft Seating

Legal name

Acro Aircraft Seating Ltd.

Website

https://acro.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Acro Aircraft Seating is a UK-headquartered manufacturer of lightweight commercial aircraft passenger seats — economy, premium economy, and domestic business class — supplying airlines, lessors, and OEMs globally, with Airbus A320-family line-fit status since 2017 and Shanghai-listed parent Zhejiang Tiancheng Zikong (603085).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aircraft Passenger Seating

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Aerospace Interior Materials & Components (Cabin) (IMABANAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interiors MRO (Cabin Refurbishment & IFE) (IMABALAH)

Keywords

• Aircraft passenger seating
• Economy class seats
• Premium economy seating
• Aircraft seat manufacturing
• Commercial aviation interiors

Headquarters

HQ city

Crick

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Seat Manufacturing and Sales: Acro Aircraft Seating generates revenue through the design, manufacture, and sale of aircraft passenger seats to commercial airlines worldwide. Revenue comes from both new aircraft line-fit contracts with OEMs (Airbus, Boeing) and direct aftermarket sales to airlines for retrofit and replacement seating. The company offers a range of seat products across economy class, premium economy, and domestic business class segments. Revenue is project-based, driven by contract wins with airline customers for specific aircraft types and fleet configurations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Acro Aircraft Seating designs, manufactures, and sells lightweight commercial aircraft passenger seats for airlines worldwide. Its product portfolio spans economy class (Series 6, Series 9), premium economy (INNOVARES), and domestic business class (Series 7) seating, supplied both as OEM line-fit equipment for Airbus and Boeing aircraft and as aftermarket retrofit seats, supported by the AcroCare aftermarket service programme.

Product overview

Acro Aircraft Seating is a leading manufacturer of commercial aircraft passenger seats, offering a diversified product portfolio spanning economy class (Series 6, Series 9), premium economy (INNOVARES), and domestic business class (Series 7) seating. The product lineup features lightweight aluminium alloy and composite constructions with class-leading passenger comfort, space optimization, and sustainability credentials. The Series 9 platform serves as the flagship economy class offering with Fixed Back, Recline, and Wide Body variants. The portfolio is unified by AcroCare aftermarket support service and shares common design principles of reduced part counts, ergonomic features, and customization options for airline branding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AcroCare: Customer care and aftermarket support program providing dedicated account management, spare parts support, AOG response within 24 hours, and continuous product performance tracking.
• Series 9
• Series 6
• INNOVARES
• Series 7

Products and services

• Series 9 Fixed Back Lightweight fixed-back economy seat with optimized aluminium alloy structure achieving passenger weight from 7.5kg. Features integrated headrest, class-leading passenger width without compromising armrest or aisle width. Compatible with A320 and B737 aircraft.
• Series 9 Recline Reclining variant of Series 9 with up to 4 inches of recline for enhanced passenger comfort. Features aluminium alloy structure with passenger weight from 8.5kg. Suitable for both single and twin aisle aircraft including A320 family and wide-body applications.
• Series 9 Wide Body Long-haul economy seat featuring up to 6 inches of recline with articulating seat cushion and video IFE screens up to 13.3 inches. Designed for wide-body aircraft including A330, A350, B777, and B787. UKTSO and ETSO C127b certified.
• Series 6 Fixed Back Short-haul economy seat pre-reclined to optimal comfort angle (23.35 degrees). Lightweight design with reduced part count for quick turnaround sanitizing. Features Acro's signature curved seatback. Compatible with A319, A320, A321 aircraft.
• Series 6 Recline Short to medium haul economy seat with up to 4 inches of recline. Features fully composite curved seatback for space efficiency with 2 inches more room at knee level. Compatible with A319, A320, A321, A330, and B737 aircraft.
• Series 6 IFE Short to medium haul economy seat with integrated in-flight entertainment featuring up to 10-inch monitors. Offers 4 inches of recline and 2 inches extra knee room. Centre seats are 1 inch wider than side seats. Compatible with A319, A320, A321, A330, and B737.
• Series 7 Domestic Business Class Narrowbody domestic business class seat with minimum 21.5-inch width and 36-inch pitch. Features ergonomically sleek design, articulating seatback and seat base, four-way headrest, and in-seat power (110V/USB). IFE option available with 13-inch 15-degree tilt display. Configurable for A320 and B737.
• INNOVARES Premium Economy Class Seat Premium economy seat featuring up to 11 inches of recline with articulating seat cushion, footrest, and legrest that adjust together during recline. Unique foot space design accommodates all passenger sizes. Compatible with wide-body aircraft including A330, A350, B777, B787.
• AcroCare Aftermarket Support Programme Customer care and aftermarket support programme providing dedicated account management, spare parts support, AOG response within 24 hours, warranty reconciliation, and documentation distribution. Includes proactive measures for service, spare parts management, and continuous improvement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Series 9 achieves 98.83% recyclability confirmed by AIRA independent audit
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Tiderock Composites LtdcoreTechnology or Integration · 29 April 2026Tiderock Composites achieved FAR 25.853 and CS 25.853 flammability certification for composite seat back components manufactured at its Coningsby, UK facility. Acro Aircraft Seating passed the certification process incorporating Tiderock's components for Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family aircraft, demonstrating self-extinguishing properties, burn length limits, and resistance to flaming drip under global aviation safety standards.
• COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2022Acro Aircraft Seating products displayed at COMAC Customer Selection Centre in Shanghai Pudong, the first and largest civil aviation selection centre in Asia. Acro shown as potential supplier for COMAC aircraft including C919. Display includes Series 6 seats for Qingdao Airlines partnership and new Series 6 premium alloy economy seat designed specifically for Chinese airline requirements.
• AirbuscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2017Since 2017, Acro has been an Airbus line-fit supplier for A320 family aircraft. Relationship continues to develop and deepen through ongoing contracts for new aircraft deliveries.
• AIRA (Aircraft Interior Recycling Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AIRA to certify recyclability of Series 9 seats at 98.83%. AIRA conducts independent audits of seat components and provides certification that enables airlines to quantify CO2 offset claims when seats are recycled at end-of-life. Partnership includes creation of digital database of seat parts to help airlines manage end-of-life recycling.
• SaabstrategicOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSuccessful strategic partnership established for aircraft seating integration. First delivery completed December 2014. Partnership enables Acro seats to be offered as original equipment on Saab aircraft.
• BoeingstrategicOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPartnership for B737, B757 and B767 seating applications. Acro supplies seats for Boeing aircraft through both line-fit and aftermarket channels.
• FokkerminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerClose and productive partnership for aircraft seating applications on Fokker regional aircraft.
• ATR AviationminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPartnership for ATR regional turboprop aircraft seating integration.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Recaro Aircraft Seating: German-based economy class seating specialist and most direct competitor to Acro. Operates in the same narrow-body economy and premium economy segments with comparable target customers (LCCs and full-service carriers) and similar product positioning around lightweight seat design.
• Geven S.p.A. Italian aircraft seating manufacturer focused on economy and premium economy seats for commercial airlines. Closest mid-tier competitor to Acro, serving similar airline customers on A320/B737 platforms with comparable customization approach.
• Thompson Aero Seating: UK/Ireland-based aircraft seating specialist serving premium economy, business, and first class on wide-body platforms. Comparable mid-tier size and focus on differentiated passenger comfort as a competitive lever versus incumbents.
• MGR Aircraft Seating: UK economy class seat manufacturer offering the 'M-Flex' platform for short-haul single-aisle aircraft. Closely comparable in size, geography and narrow-body economy focus as a direct Acro peer.
• ZIM Aircraft Seating GmbH: German narrow-body economy seating specialist competing on A320 family and Boeing 737 with similar mid-tier positioning. Directly comparable product mix (mainly LCC economy seats) and overlap with Acro in customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Stelia Aerospace (Airbus Atlantic): Airbus-owned premium seating manufacturer producing economy, premium economy, business class and first class seats. Significantly larger scale with full product range spanning long-haul and wide-body programs — overlaps with Acro on A320 economy but extends well beyond.
• Collins Aerospace (RTX): Multi-billion dollar aerospace seating division of RTX offering full-spectrum commercial seating (economy through first class). Competes directly with Acro on narrow-body economy while offering breadth, scale, and OEM integration that Acro lacks.

Emerging players

• HAECO Cabin Solutions: Hong Kong-based MRO and cabin integration business increasingly moving into seat refurbishment and seating offerings. Comparable aftermarket/cabin focus with growing overlap in retrofit seating programs on A320/B737.
• Expliseat: French lightweight aircraft seating startup pioneering ultralight titanium/composite economy seats. Comparable technology-first, weight-optimization positioning aimed at fuel-cost-driven airline value proposition.

Regional players

• Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC): State-owned Chinese aerospace group producing aircraft seats under subsidiaries for the Chinese market and emerging-market narrow-body programs. Comparably sized but primarily China/regional focus, with potential overlap on COMAC platforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Acro Aircraft Seating