PA XEX O PPORTUNITIES
Question: will there be any new positives for airlines
and the interiors industry following Covid-19?
DEMOCRATISED
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
JUNE 2020 039
PAUSE TO REFLECT
BILL PERRONE, PRESIDENT,
PERRONE AEROSPACE
“This ‘pause’ has given everyone in the industry a
chance to reflect on business and manufacturing
operations. We have the opportunity to reevaluate
what is necessary, practical and urgent. While the
shock will be severe in the short term, we can
use this time to work collaboratively toward
a common goal and drive new solutions and
innovations that will help customers and
passengers to feel safe flying again.”
RESILIENCE AND
INNOVATION
CRISTIAN SUTTER, GENERAL
MANAGER UK & DIRECTOR
OF COMMERCIAL AVIATION
STRATEGY, GDC TECHNICS:
“Aviation has always responded to world
challenges by innovating and even
reinventing itself, and we are about
to shift the paradigm once again
into a more resilient and
innovative industry.”
RESTORING THE
MAGIC OF FLIGHT
HELENA TEICHRIB,
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER,
AIM ALTITUDE
“A ‘new normal’ will arise from our global
experience of Covid-19. People will gain
a newfound appreciation for travel, and
this a great opportunity to bring back
the ‘magic of flight’. As hard as
things might be now, it is an
opportunity for new
thinking to arise.”
AGILE
INNOVATION
NATHAN MATTHEWS, CREATIVE
LEAD, FORPEOPLE
“Covid-19 has once again highlighted the airline industry’s
sensitivity to major global events. However, intelligent design
can offer solutions that mitigate problems of this nature. Airlines
should prioritise innovation over simple growth. If ‘necessity is
the mother of all invention’, we could be entering an exciting time
for aircraft interiors.
“We’re experiencing a period of unprecedented travel restriction
and social isolation. When these measures are lifted and
confidence is restored, there will be some serious
cases of wanderlust to treat. Despite the
current disruption, airlines should remain
focused on their innovation pipeline
and prepare to capitalise on
the resumption of normal
operations.” BUBBLING
INNOVATION
JACQUES PIERREJEAN, FOUNDER,
PIERREJEAN VISION
“This new era provides an opportunity to rethink cabin design to
accommodate the need for sanitation. Individual space is important,
so I could imagine rethinking the seats with new, easy-to-clean
materials, wider and more apart (or perhaps more like a bench),
with individual bubbles to separate people from their
neighbours. It gives us a chance to investigate
new materials, and to integrate technology
such as Bluetooth connections with
smartphones to eliminate the
touchscreens.” ADAPT AND
SURVIVE
need to use physical IFE
JAIME MORENO, FOUNDER AND
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MORMEDI
“I think there is going to be a lot of space for innovation. Airlines
that are able to adapt quickly to this new environment will survive and
will get out of this crisis in a stronger competitive position.
“Isn’t it likely that many passengers would pay extra for extra space and peace
of mind? The way we will travel in the future will be much different than it has been
up to now, and hopefully for the better in a lot of ways.”
FLYING
MARTIN DARBYSHIRE, CEO, TANGERINE
“I am not missing squeezing onto a tube train or fighting for an
armrest in an economy seat. I don’t mind paying 20-30% more for a
better experience that makes me valued as a customer. When I look at the
LOPA of a twin-aisle aircraft, 50-60% of the floor space is devoted
to business class seats that are usually priced way beyond
the budget of an SME owner, especially one that cannot
book more than a few weeks ahead. I am hoping
that market norms will change, and that real
innovation will once again creep back in,
bringing meaningful service and
product propositions that
democratise flying and
really make the
experience
better.”
continued >
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