20 May 2008 | Ref. 164/2008
Hatfield, Hertfordshire - BAE Systems Regional Aircraft announced today at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva that it has teamed with premium UK design consultancy Design Q to provide modern, contemporary and stylish interior designs for the Avro Business Jet (ABJ).
The RJ70 currently being completed by Inflite Engineering Services at London Stansted for Hemus Air of Bulgaria is the first with a Design Q-inspired interior. It features a modern, innovative mood-lit cabin with a double club 4 executive seating and dining and divan area, with a separate 12-seat business class seating cabin for company support staff.
Announcing the link with Design Q today, Andy Whelan, Sales Executive for BAE Systems Regional Aircraft said: “Because of the growing market interest in the Avro Business Jet, we decided to find a modern, cutting edge design house that we can recommend to clients who buy the aircraft and who we have confidence in to develop exciting, individual interiors for aircraft owners and to work with them with passion and commitment. Design Q fits the bill admirably and we look forward to a long and successful relationship on future ABJ projects”.
Design Q has a proven capability in VIP and commercial aircraft design and has built up an enviable client base across the transport sector. This includes the widely acclaimed Upper Class seat for Virgin Atlantic, a re-design of all classes through Cathay Pacific’s different aircraft, a new Global Express flight deck design for Bombardier, the Celebrity Jet in collaboration with Lufthansa Technik, and a range of aircraft and helicopter VIP interiors for private high-wealth individuals.
Founded in 1997 by Howard Guy and Gary Doy, formerly principal designers at Jaguar Cars, the consultancy has also kept its links with the automotive sector and works for Ferrari and Maserati.
Gary Doy explained the philosophy behind Design Q’s offering to the VIP market. “In recent years there has been a shift in values and aspirations of the VIP owner. In part this is due to younger and more design-aware customers entering the marketplace who would like the interior of their aircraft to reflect the same values they have when buying a luxury car, yacht, or new home. They are looking for both a more contemporary and high quality interior solution and there is a trend towards more open plan layouts and modern surface finishes”.
He continued: “this is an exciting development and Design Q is committed to developing a strong relationship with the VIP customer to help create a layout and mood that will reflect the owner’s personality. This is what we have done with the Hemus Air RJ70 and we know that we can achieve highly individual work with this aircraft because its large cabin offers untold opportunities. We are delighted to be working with BAE Systems to offer innovative, cutting edge interior design to the Avro Business Jet and we look forward to working with new ABJ customers over the coming years”.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 97,500 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15.7 billion (US $31.4 billion) in 2007.
For further information contact:
David Dorman, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1582 488336
Email: ddaviddorman@aol.com
John Neilson, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0) 1252 384795 Mob: + 44 (0)7802 337704
john.neilson@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384605 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
