On July 8th, STELIA Aerospace was honoured with the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2025 in the Sustainable Design category for its unique OPERA® ESSENTIAL premium Business Class seat.

The Red Dot Award is amongst the world’s most distinguished design competitions, having celebrated products of exceptional design quality since 1955. An independent jury assesses each entry against the four fundamental principles of good design: function, appeal, usability and responsibility.

The aeronautics industry is on the precipice of transformative change, bracing for significant challenges as it confronts the climate imperative. OPERA® ESSENTIAL, the latest addition to STELIA Aerospace’s acclaimed OPERA® family, has been meticulously conceived in accordance with eco-design principles. Its advanced design serves a dual purpose: to provide a pioneering solution that establishes a new benchmark for sustainability in aviation, whilst continuing to deliver unparalleled comfort and luxury to passengers.

Embracing this paradigm shift and breaking new ground, STELIA Aerospace hereby presents a revolutionary concept: a sustainable and entirely autonomous seat that responds to the passenger’s own movements. Culminating from two years of rigorous life-cycle analysis and environmental impact assessment, and inspired by its sibling product, OPERA® Single-Aisle, the design approach for OPERA® ESSENTIAL is founded upon four key pillars: mass optimisation, streamlined electrical components, incorporation of recycled and recyclable materials and preservation of the luxurious comfort expected of a long-range Business Class seat.

A key innovation of this new design is the removal of the electrical actuator and its Electronic Control Unit (ECU). This not only reduces the seat’s weight and consequent environmental impact but also allows passengers complete control over their comfort, offering an infinite number of positions and a more rapid transition to the full-flat bed mode.

“Following our success with the Green Good Design Award in March, we are delighted to be honoured with the prestigious Red Dot Award: Product Design 2025 for OPERA® ESSENTIAL. It is a privilege to be selected from amongst such design-led companies who are at the forefront of innovation and sustainability.” says Thierry Kanengieser, VP Cabin Interior at STELIA Aerospace. We continuously work to innovate and shape the future of a sustainable aviation seating industry while offering a premium passenger experience. Such recognition is a great source of motivation for our teams, fuelling our continued pursuit of excellence”

STELIA Aerospace is committed to driving innovation in premium aircraft interiors, offering eco-designed solutions that elevate the travel experience for passengers worldwide while delivering maximum profitability to airlines.