FUTUR E V I SION
morph into an entertainment space, while 54% are
interested in seeing it turn into a working area. The desire
for a seat that can transform into a social or exercise
area is less widespread yet still significant, with its appeal
varying strongly depending on where the consumer is
from. The airplane as a social space is an interesting theme
to consider, as it challenges the perception of the flight as
a mostly individual experience. Around 4 in 10 consumers
say they enjoy socialising on airplanes, so it is worth
exploring what this could look like in practice.
That option of having a seat that transforms into a social
area appeals to 46% of consumers, and a similar proportion
demonstrate interest in cabins with a dedicated communal
space for socialising, which could involve educational or
social learning experiences. However, stark cultural
differences are at play, with consumers from emerging
markets and Italy showing more appetite for these options,
while German and Japanese consumers seemingly prefer
a more private experience.
THE ‘ME ME’ WORLD:
Consumers demand ever greater personalisation across all
parts of their journey As consumers grow more used to the
sharing of personal data and the benefits they can receive
through doing so, the potential for enhanced, more tailored
flight experiences is extensive. Personalisation can promote
a more comfortable airplane environment, with the help
of innovations that manage to address individual
preferences in the context of the flight’s communal space.
The vast majority of consumers agree that they would
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
028 ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2020
ABOVE: THE CURIO HYPERSONIC
MODULAR AIRCRAFT CONCEPT
BOASTS ZERO EMISSIONS, A STATEOF
THE-ART INTERIOR AND BESPOKE
64% of global
consumers rate
variety and freshness
of inflight food as
important decision
like to tailor the lighting within their seating
area, opening further exciting possibilities.
The same could also be possible for temperature,
aroma and other sensorial elements.
Consumers are no longer satisfied with ‘one-sizefits
all’ solutions, and that needs to be acknowledged in
the flight experiences they receive. Whether through the
personalisation of the current inflight offer or a more
customisable cabin environment, the traveller of today is
craving a more bespoke approach to flying which manages
to fulfil both their functional and emotional demands.
Holistic yet transparent data collection is key, as
personalisation will increasingly be expected to stretch
beyond mass customisation, allowing for tailoring to each
individual based on granular information such as their
current mood at any given point.
A variety of health considerations also comes through
in the data, with respondents highlighting a range of factors
as being important to them while flying. More so than the
ability to walk around on a long-haul flight, consumers
rate healthy inflight food options, the ability to sleep, the
cleanliness of the seating area, the ability to relax in flight
and – in first place – the inflight air quality.
LOOKING TO 2069
The forces and drivers that will shape how the experience
of flying will evolve over the next five decades include the
ABOVE RIGHT: THE ‘S-LOW DOWN’
FUTURE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE
WOULD ADDRESS CUSTOMER
WELLNESS AND SUSTAINABLE
LIVING NEEDS
“It challenges the perception
of the flight as a mostly
individual experience”
factors
INFLIGHT SERVICE
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