For each reupholstered seat, Thomas Cook will save up to 25% in seat weight related fuel burn costs alone each year as the weight of E-Leather’s product is less than half that of natural leather. E-Leather weighs only 1,500g compared to 2,700g for natural leather but it possesses the physical properties of natural leather, offering durability and comfort.
Bruce Millington, project engineer for Thomas Cook Aircraft Engineering, is delighted with the projected savings. He said: ‘Not only will we make significant cost savings in our fuel spend but we will also spend less on maintaining and cleaning the seats as E-Leather is wipe clean and more durable.
The value we are getting by using E-Leather is excellent. Our passengers will experience superior comfort while travelling and its reduced weight will present us with huge cost savings.’
E-Leather’s engineered leather prime component is leather fibre derived from tannery by-products, which is intimately ‘re-woven’. It is supplied in rolls which results in only a 5% wastage compared to up to 40% wastage for natural hides. The company distributes its unique material to the footwear, upholstery, leathergoods and transport sectors including aviation, railways and automotive.
Doug Hacking, E-Leather’s managing director, commented: ‘It is a major coup for the business to be working with Thomas Cook, a leading leisure industry specialist and aircraft operator. The savings being made by Thomas Cook can be transferred to other aircraft carriers and I am confident that this deal will lead to further work in the aviation sector.’
