At the annual
Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), to be held May 28-30in Hamburg, Germany, Delta
Air Lines subsidiary Delta Flight Products (DFP) plans on unveiling multiple
accessibility-focused innovations. Among them are two groundbreaking new seat
designs (one for Economy and another for First Class) that enable passengers to
stay in their own wheelchairs throughout the flight, and a first-of-its-kind
accessible lavatory that allows entry of a wheelchair and up to two attendants.
DFP’s initial seat
design for a domestic First Class cabin, which debuted at the 2023 AIX, has
been upgraded following extensive feedback from the disability community and
other stakeholders. Over the past nine months, the design team has made
significant improvements, culminating in an enhanced version of the original
seat, which will be showcased at this year's expo.
In addition, DFP
will present a newly developed seat intended for Economy Class cabins, which
retains the comfort and safety features of the First Class version. When
installed in the first row of an aircraft, it remains passenger-neutral,
meaning it does not reduce the total number of seats available. Travel
Weekly reported that it contains a seat bottom that folds up against the
seatback to accommodate the wheelchair, but could be converted for standard use
when no wheelchair users are flying.
To develop and
realize these revolutionary designs, DFP has worked with UK-based consortium
AirforAll—which includes PriestmanGoode, Flying Disabled, SWS Certification and
Sunrise Medical.
“Since AIX last
year it’s been an exciting few months of collaboration and refinement of the
design – and constant engagement with the wheelchair user community. We’ve
listened and this year we’re leading the way with a family of seat products and
other solutions, all part of a holistic view of the journey and an experience
that’s inclusive for all,” said Daniel MacInnes, Director,
PriestmanGoode.
The pioneering new
lavatory prototype, which will also debut at AIX, would be situated near the aircraft’s
boarding door and features a unique entrance with a fixed panel that can be
unlatched to accommodate an onboard wheelchair, while also affording maximum
privacy from the aircraft cabins.
The lavatory
incorporates touchless technology and enables passengers with disabilities to readily
access various features, including as the sink, directly from the toilet before
transferring back to their wheelchair. The lighting is also intended to assist
individuals with low vision or color sensitivity, and future options being
explored include a "smart mirror" that can close caption PA
announcements for the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as tactile symbols for
the blind and visually impaired community.
“DFP’s involvement
with these seats and accessible lavatory is fundamental to our goal of always
working towards improving the passenger experience and making travel more
accessible for all,” said Rick Salanitri, President, Delta Flight Products. “We
look forward to seeing these products through their testing and certification
phases, which will prepare them for aircraft identification and installation,
resulting in a more seamless travel journey for the disability
community.”
Making flying
accessible for individuals to use their own wheelchair is a key focus for
disability advocates. Aside from offering increased comfort, staying in one's
personal chair would prevent potential damage in the aircraft cargo hold and
lower the risk of injury during boarding and deplaning. Currently, these passengers
are required to transfer from their own chair to an airline-provided wheelchair
in order to move onto and off of the aircraft.
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