Filenews 23 November 2021
Over the next three years, aircraft design experts are predicting significant changes in the way we travel. When one sees the date "2025" written in front of him, one probably has the impression that we are talking about something really very distant. In fact, though, 2025 is just 3 years away from 2022, which starts in about a month from now.
With the coronavirus pandemic having brought with it so many changes in our daily lives, the way we travel will, in all likelihood, never be the same again. Already, many airlines are exploring the possibilities of converting the aircraft present in their fleet, designing new seats and dividers that will ensure "isolation" and health safety for passengers. This is something that everyone hopes will encourage a fresh start in travel, persuading people to start boarding planes again with much less fear at heart.
The start will probably be made from the distinguished positions of the aircraft with Anthony Harcup, managing director of the leading company Teague, which is active in the industrial design of interiors in aircraft, explaining that "in order to achieve the complete redesign in the business class part of the airplanes and deliver it ready to the market we need from 24 to 36 months".
Nevertheless, it makes it clear that the exact time frame will depend on a number of factors, such as, for example, whether we are talking about a seat on board that is already used by the airline concerned or whether it is a completely new position that has to be built from scratch. From whether we are talking about zooming out the position to fit from a large Boeing 777 to a much smaller A330 and vice versa. Still, from how many seats on board will need redesign and replacement.
All the above questions are presented as critical by officials, who explain that when a plane goes out for redesign it cannot be put back into operation until everything is in place with absolute safety and after all the necessary safety measures have been checked and checked. This may prove to be particularly damaging to the airlines. However, the needs of the post-coronavirus era and the demands of travellers make the choice of seats that will take the form of a private cabin one way in the field of global airlines.
After all, already large airlines have introduced this type of cabins on their aircraft. Qatar Airways Qsuite, Delta ONE Suite and JetBlue's Mint Suite stand out for their luxury and comfort. In addition, these changes have led to the withdrawal of older aircraft, such as the Boeing 747, which will gradually be replaced by more modern models.
"Over the past five years passenger choices, technological advancements and geopolitical changes have brought tremendous changes in how we experience travel even when we're talking about shorter flights," Harcup says. "Now companies are equipping planes that have only one runway divider with single, wider and more comfortable seats, completely transforming the image and experience of business class service. If this continues, then the world business class market, or at least a large percentage of it, will almost entirely involve single-run aircraft, which ensures absolute privacy in travel," Harcup concludes.
At the same time, JPA Design, which specializes in designing seats for aircraft, talks about the "seats of the future".
The company's spokesman, Richard D'Cruze, explains that the coronavirus is not the only factor that determines the big changes that will come in the coming period in the interiors of airplanes. As he says "We are no longer talking about the need for comfort, privacy and luxury. Now we are talking about seats that will have as a central axis of design the requirement for sustainability. They will be made of lightweight, ergonomic materials that will promise that fuel consumption will be significantly reduced, but also that the footprint on the environment will be much smaller."
JPA Design is currently working on the creation of a new type of seat called AIRTEK. This seat will be so ergonomic that it will be able to adapt easily to larger aircraft with two runways, but also to smaller planes with a single runway divider.
Source: travel.gr
