An electrical lead suspension (ELS) having partitioned air slots. The ELS
includes a laminate. A first plurality of signal traces and a second
plurality of traces are in a first formed layer of the laminate. The
second plurality of traces may be signal traces or power traces. The
laminate has a dielectric layer between the first formed layer and a
second formed layer. A plurality of partitioned air slots is in the
second formed layer of the laminate. The portion of the ELS having a
plurality of partitioned air slots supporting the at least the first
plurality of signal traces and the portion of the ELS having a second
plurality of partitioned air slots or patterns supporting the second
plurality of traces. The supporting of the first plurality of signal
traces separate from the second plurality of traces reduces write-to-read
cross talk and signal loss. Offsetting the first plurality of air slots
from second plurality of air slots further reduces cross talk and signal
loss and restores some of the structural rigidity lost due to in line
(e.g., aligned) slots.