CABIN FEVER
Airplane manufacturers show off new features at expo to help airlines soar over rivals,
HAMBURG, GERMANY— As plane makers focus on delivering record jetliner backlogs at the expense of designing new models, airlines are keener than ever to secure an edge over rivals with the latest on-board upgrades and gizmos.
That might mean snazzy new business seats each costing more than a family car, or cheap and cheerful innovations aimed at making10 hours in coach just a little more bearable.
The 2018 Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany — the industry’s biggest event devoted solely to the inside of the aircraft — featured several highlights, some more likely to make it to market than others:
Serve-yourself nibbles
Tired of waiting for the food trolley to find its way slowly to your seat? Switzerland’s Buch- er Aerospace is developing a galley for wide-body aircraft that doubles as a food kiosk, allowing passengers to wander up for peanuts or a soft drink at any time.
Standing room only Plane washrooms are a focus for designers because they add weight, but provide zero revenue. Zodiac Aerospace is offering a modification that converts one of four lavatories in the centre of a wide-body jet into two urinals. That means shorter lines for male passengers and would allow another facility to be made female-only. Deployed in the rear of an aircraft, the same design could create space for a cubicle accessible to people with disabilities.
An end to bag wars? One innovation that’s about to become a reality is an overhead luggage compartment that could make squabbles for the last empty locker a thing of the past. Designed by FACC AG for Airbus, the Airspace XL Bin boasts capacity for 60 per cent more bags and will make its debut on American Airlines A320 aircraft next year.
Items are stored vertically and the bin expands into the aisle to create extra space, while still allowing the person in the aisle seat to stand upright. The design is based on luggage allowance data for 120 airlines and scrutiny of thousands of actual bags, including wheels and handles.
Sleeping in the hold Airbus made Hamburg headlines with a plan to offer passengers sleeper compartments in the cargo holds of A330 jets. In fact, the design utilizes existing sleep space set aside for crew, something that’s not required on shorter long-haul trips. Passengers would keep their regular seats for takeoff and landing and snooze in between. The space could also be used for a meeting room and children’s play area, though there won’t be any windows.