Flying will soon be more sophisticated, convenient, and accessible, if airlines’ latest innovative cabin concepts are any indication.
International carriers recently showcased their most inventive new ideas to improve the passenger experience at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, and the best concepts—which received Crystal Cabin Awards—are a peek into what the future of commercial flying might be like in the near future.
Some of the concepts, like Cathay Pacific’s “Gallery in the Skies,” focused on improving the cabin’s ambience. Under the new program, a piece of fine art will be incorporated into the decor of the airline’s new business class cabin.
Each of the 30 paintings that the airline has curated are by artists with a connection to Hong Kong, where Cathay Pacific is based, and plays on the theme of nature. One piece of art will be added to each of Cathay’s 30 Boeing 777-300ER planes being retrofitted with its newest business class product.
Cathay Pacific also won another recognition for its new in-flight entertainment control system that’s part of its new Aria Suites. With the new system, passengers have control of the lighting, seat position, and crew communication through the entertainment screen or remote. Most notably, the new system will allow passengers in all cabin classes to check if the lavatory is available right from their seats to avoid awkward and cumbersome waits in the aisles and near the galleys.
From an accessibility perspective, the concepts outlined potential vast improvements for travelers with reduced mobility. The winning concept in that category was Diehl Aviation’s Space³ lavatory, which would be accessible for travelers in wheelchairs.
The design features wider doors, foldable sinks, and a sliding mat system to assist travelers, and if implemented, would eliminate a major pain point for travelers who use wheelchairs, as most airline lavatories currently in operation are not wheelchair accessible. Indeed, Claudia Friedrich, who was one of the award judges, said that the Space³ lavatory makes it possible “to ensure fairness & dignity for everyone while traveling.”
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