Thompson Aero Seating, the aircraft seating manufacturer based in Portadown, Northern Ireland has reported strong growth in its financial performance for the year ending 31 December 2024, following the successful completion of its three-year recovery and transformation plan.
According to the company’s annual report, filed with Companies House in May 2025, Thompson Aero Seating achieved a 47% year-on-year increase in revenue, alongside an operating profit of £23 million (US$31.1m) for the year. In addition, the company’s order book grew by £326 million (US$441m) in that period, reflecting growing interest in its business-class seating products within the global aerospace market.
The positive financial results progress come as Thompson continues to focus on operational improvement and product innovation. The company has introduced several changes across its operating model and supply chain to strengthen delivery performance and build greater resilience in its operations.
“2024 marked the completion of a three-year recovery plan,” said Keith Anderson, CEO of Thompson Aero Seating. “We’ve delivered against our commitments, secured a strong pipeline of orders, and made tangible progress across our operations, and we are now in a more stable position.
“These improvements have positioned Thompson to gain a reputation for industry-leading delivery performance and new product introduction (‘NPI’) execution with our customers and major aircraft manufacturers. It’s an incredibly exciting time, as the strength of our order book means it is imperative that we continue to develop our operating model to deliver 2x growth in the coming years,” he added.
In other recent developments at the company, in April 2025, Thompson launched two new seating products at Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg: VantageNOVA First, an enhanced front-row seating solution for business-class-plus; and the VantageXL+ business seat, unveiled in partnership with China Southern Airlines. Both represent key additions to the company’s premium seating portfolio.
Thompson’s £7.5 million (US$10.15m) on-site Dynamic Test Facility, which opened in late 2023 in Banbridge, is enabling in-house dynamic testing, accelerating product development and supporting the timely launch of new innovations in 2024 and 2025.
“We are particularly proud of our industry-leading performance in NPI. Our developing operating model and our DTF have enabled this strong performance,” added Anderson.
Thompson Aero Seating continues to employ more than 700 people across its Northern Ireland sites, and is driving growth within the local manufacturing and engineering sectors.
