Air seat firm strikes major deal

The new seats designed by Thompson Solutions

About 200 new jobs could be created at a company in Kilkeel, County Down.

Thompson Solutions makes airline seats and is set to win a second major contract from American airline Delta.

The Thompson-designed 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. The company is also designing a new type of seating for economy class.

Last month, the company announced that a deal struck with Delta would create about 100 jobs.

South Down DUP assembly member Jim Wells said the announcement was good news for the company and for the wider Kilkeel area.

"The economic prospects of Kilkeel have suffered much in recent years as a result of the downturn in the fishing sector, but if this venture goes ahead we will see two Kilkeel companies - Thompson Solutions and BE Aerospace - supplying 40% of all aircraft seats in the world," he said.