Aerospace companies are trying to improve the passenger experience aboard planes, as improved cabin comfort could lead to a significant increase in sales for the airlines.
In the annual Aircraft Interiors Exposition in Hamburg – the best showcase for cabin innovation – many exhibitors presented new seats, fabrics, lights, in-flight entertainment systems and creative design concepts. The main trend in this year’s exposition was a more efficient use of the cabin-generated data, used to provide the passengers with a more personalised experience, as well as supporting flight assistants and improving the maintenance of business class seats and kitchen areas.
Below you will find a run-through of some of the new trends presented in the 2019 exposition.
Feel like you’re at home
Over time, the fabrics used for seats and cabins have moved from psychedelic styles towards more muted colours. The latest trend is designed to make the passenger feel like they are at home. Lantal Textiles, an aircraft fabric manufacturer, took the opportunity to present some cabin curtains made from a more luxurious material which adopts a tri-dimensional design. Lonseal also exhibited their floors that imitate the grainy details of real wood, creating a more relaxing cabin atmosphere. Ambient lighting continues to be one of the main forces of cabin innovation, but the new generation of LED lights also allows airlines to considerably reduce their weight. Collins Aerospace also presented a reading light that can be adapted to different applications, being used for objects of all shapes and sizes. This light also has full-colour options, eliminating the need for additional elements such as side lights.
Make yourself comfortable, even in tourist class
Recaro Holding presented an updated version of its CL3710 end-of-cabin seat, that has been especially designed with long-haul journeys in mind. This new seat has additional amenities that facilitate sleep, an enveloping head support and a solution for extending the seat which provides greater thigh support. If you’re too cold or warm in the cabin, Lantal is currently developing a temperature regulation system that allows passengers to heat up or cool down their seat.
Aroma that arouses sensitivity
Panasonic Avionics presented a cabin air deodorising system that purifies and perfumes the area around the seats in the business class section. This system uses nanometric-sized atomised electrostatic particles to neutralise the air and fight against viruses and bacteria. During the fair held in Hamburg, engineers demonstrated how the technology could be used with a shabby piece of cloth that smells strongly of chips. After a one-minute burst of nanoparticles, it smelled just like clean sheets.
