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Self-Cleaning Aircraft Seats Will 'Destroy Almost Every Germ on Contact Within Seconds'

May 12, 2018
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2 min read
Condor Germs
Self-Cleaning Aircraft Seats Will 'Destroy Almost Every Germ on Contact Within Seconds'
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Airline seat manufacturers are constantly developing better-designed products. We've seen some great innovations recently, from United's dense yet well-designed Polaris seats to Emirates' new world-class first class suites.

Now, seat manufacturer Recaro is developing a new technology that focuses on health rather than just comfort. According to a Bloomberg interview with Recaro CEO Mark Hiller, a new self-cleaning business class seat is in the process of being developed. The seat will be "infused with a disinfectant that destroys almost every germ on contact within seconds" using a newly-developed anti-bacterial film.

And, since "the best innovation doesn’t help if you cannot show it," this new seat will indicate to passengers just how clean it is.

However, you're not going to see this new technology on-board anytime soon. According to Recaro, the seats won't be unveiled for another year or two. Even then, an airline is going to have to order and install the new seat before you're able to experience it for yourself.

This innovation will join a list of others designed to make aircraft less germy — including Boeing's self-cleaning toilets and GermFalcon's UV-light-based system to clean the interior of an aircraft. For germophobes, these innovations can't be installed soon enough.

While many of us might not want to think about it, there are some exceptionally dirty spots in airports and aircraft. Hands-down, self check-in screens are the dirtiest, with an average of 253,857 colony-forming units (CFU) — viable bacteria and fungal cells — per square inch. In the airport, second and third place goes to gate bench armrests (21,630 CFU per square inch) and water fountain buttons (19,181 CFU per square inch).

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On-board, the bacterial onslaught continues with lavatory flush buttons (95,145 CFU per square inch), tray tables (11,595 CFU per square inch) and seatbelt buckles (1,116 CFU per square inch) being the highest source of germs. Notably absent from this list of dirtiest spots is the target of this latest innovation: the airplane seats themselves. That said, for those hoping for a cleaner aircraft, any innovation to reduce germs is a welcome innovation.

H/T: Bloomberg via Australian Business Traveller

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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