WELCOME
THE FUTURE BEGINS HERE
W elcome to the 2020 Design Showcase edition of Aircraft Interiors
International, a special annual publication that brings together some
of the most exciting cabin design insights and projects that have
emerged over the past year, the latest materials and technology developments,
and new ideas that can advance the next generation of cabins.
It feels like we’re on the cusp of a big change in aviation. The increasing
range of single-aisle aircraft (with the A321XLR capable of some 4,700NM)
is enabling new long-haul route pairs between smaller airports, with
potentially attractive load factors on such routes. This capability, combined
with operational costs well below those of widebodies, is great for regional
airlines and LCCs looking to expand. However, an end-to-end journey on
an A321XLR could amount to nine hours, which raises cabin issues. There
are already some great narrow-body first and business class seating options
on the market, but add in premium inflight catering requirements, the
need for airline brand differentiation through features such as social zones
or self-service areas, the need for greater seat pitch in economy, and more
lavatory provision – including a push for PRM-friendly lavs – and the
prospect becomes a little more challenging.
Long-haul narrow-bodies are a fascinating development, and we asked
Counterpoint Market Intelligence to take a deep dive into the sector, its
economics, its challenges and its opportunities. The report’s findings are
fascinating, as you can see on p8.
Of course long-haul narrow-body aircraft are not an entirely new
proposition, with the B757 having flown transatlantic routes for around
20 years. However, the world is changing, demand for travel is accelerating
faster than the flygskam ‘flight shame’ movement is growing, passenger
tastes and expectations are evolving, and with a rethought inflight experience
and increasingly fuel-efficient aircraft, this new narrow-body proposition
is going to benefit a lot of flyers around the world, as well as airline profits.
Similarly, supersonic flight is nothing new, but it is something the world
has missed since Concorde ceased operations in 2003. With development
underway on supersonic aircraft from Aerion, Boom, Hermius and Spike
Aerospace, it looks like super-fast air travel could soon make a return.
Again, improved efficiency will make the new models more appealing and
socially acceptable, and changes in flyers’ expectations and advances in cabin
design and technology will mean big changes in the passenger experience.
Concorde’s cabins were less luxurious than some of today’s premium
economy cabins, though as a theatre of speed with luxury soft product
and service, they felt very special. The next generation of jets could make
the supersonic experience even more special, engaging passengers with
their incredible journey. See p52 for details of the Aerion cabin concept,
including an innovative and compelling window design.
More ideas for the future come from British Airways, which has
conducted a major survey to establish a baseline of today’s flyers’ tastes,
values and expectations before exploring what the passenger experience
could look like in the near and mid term, and even in a century (see p24).
The design houses, materials and technology developers that can
make all this happen are featured in this issue. The future is in
your hands…
Adam Gavine, editor
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2020 003
THE TEAM
EDITOR Adam Gavine
adam.gavine@markallengroup.com
SENIOR ART EDITOR Anna Davie
DEPUTY ART EDITOR Louise Green
DESIGNER Andy Bass
INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES Sally James
sally.james@markallengroup.com
PRODUCTION Sejal Patel
CIRCULATION MANAGER Chris Jones
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Tom Stone
PUBLISHER Simon Hughes
simon.hughes@markallengroup.com
COO Jon Benson
CEO Ben Allen
Member of the
Audit Bureau of
Circulations
Average net circulation per issue
for the period January 1, 2018, to
December 31, 2018 was 14,141
A MARK ALLEN GROUP COMPANY
www.markallengroup.com
Aircraft Interiors International,
ISSN 1463-8932 (print), ISSN 2397-6446 (online),
(USPS 019-144) is published five times per annum
by
MA Aviation and Auto International Ltd,
Hawley Mill, Hawley Road, Dartford, Kent,
DA2 7TJ, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0)1322 221144
Email: aircraftinteriors@markallengroup.com
The annual subscription price is £90/US$120.
Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named WN Shipping USA,
156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. Periodicals
postage paid at Jamaica, NY 11431. US Postmaster: Send address
changes to Aircraft Interiors International, WN Shipping USA, 156-15,
146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA.
Subscription records are maintained at MA Aviation and Auto
International Ltd, Hawley Mill, Hawley Road, Dartford, Kent, DA2 7TJ,
United Kingdom. Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent.
© MA Aviation and Auto International Ltd, 2019. All rights reserved.
No part of Aircraft Interiors International may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without
prior written permission of the publishing director.
The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the editor.
The presence of advertisements in Aircraft Interiors International
implies no endorsement of the products or services offered. Every
effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of statements in this
magazine but we cannot accept responsibility
for errors or omissions, or for matters arising from clerical or printers’
errors, or an advertiser not completing their contract. We have made
every effort to secure permission to use copyright material. Where
material has been used inadvertently or we have been unable to trace
the copyright owner, acknowledgement will
be made in a future issue.
Please read our privacy policy by visiting
http://privacypolicy. markallengroup.com.
This will explain how we process, use and safeguard your data.
Printed in the UK by Pensord, Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, NP12 2YA
MOVING ON?
If you change jobs or your company moves to a new location,
please contact circulation@markallengroup.com to continue
receiving your free copy of Aircraft Interiors International
Cover image: British Airways
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
/markallengroup.com
/www.markallengroup.com
/privacypolicy
link
link
link
link
link