Jobs boost after plane seats deal

by Eddie O'Gorman
Business Reporter

The new seats designed by Thompson Solutions

A US airline has signed a multi-million dollar contract with a small Kilkeel company for plane seats that promise better quality shut-eye.

The deal, struck by Delta Airlines with Thompson Solutions, could lead to at least 100 news jobs for Kilkeel.

The Thompson design seats are fully reclining - up to now, business travellers on Delta made do with a semi-reclining model.

The airline is fitting the seats into its fleet of 85 Boeing 767 aircraft.

Thompson Solutions specialises in the design of aircraft seating. Their new contract means a rapid expansion.

If all these deals go through, as I expect they will, then we will have to recruit another 100 to 150 people over the next couple of years James Thompson Thompson Solutions

James Thompson's patented seat is doubly attractive to Delta because the same number of passengers can still be accommodated in the space.

More contracts are in the offing as European carriers are also interested in the design.

"At the moment we employ about 40 people. If all these deals go through, as I expect they will, then we will have to recruit another 100 to 150 people over the next couple of years.

"That will mean a move to new premises four or five times the size of our current factory."

Mr Thompson said that the manufacturing would probably have to be done elsewhere, but that the design and engineering work would continue to be done in Kilkeel.

He is also designing a new type of seating for economy class.