Business-class seats made from ergonomic memory foam to alleviate pressure on muscles and joints. Ultra-light seat fabrics that can reduce the weight of an aircraft up to 25%. An airy entrance with an elegant domed ceiling that shows the cramped doorways of most commercial jets for the human sardine cans that they are.
These were some of the notable offerings at the recent Aircraft Interiors Expo 2006, held in Hamburg, Germany from Apr. 4-6. The event offers a preview of the latest innovations in plane design and serves as a snapshot of future trends frequent flyers can look forward to.
Focus on flyers
This 2006 Expo was larger than those in previous years, with more than 11,000 visitors (an increase from 10,650 in 2005), 450 exhibitors (up from about 400 last year), and an additional hall to accommodate the increased exhibitor roster. The dominant themes of the Expo were in-flight communication systems and first- and business-class amenities.
These built on the industry trends of adding features like wireless, on-board Internet connections and devoting increased attention to high-paying customers (think of the recent spate of business-class airlines, such as Eos, launched last year). Another hot topic: airline branding.
The increased interest in this year's Airline Interiors Expo might reflect the industry-wide focus on the importance of passenger experience. According to a new study released in early April by the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Aviation Institute, airline passengers complained at a rate of 0.89 per 100,000 customers in 2005, up from 0.76 per 100,000 customers in 2004.
Boeing's bet
Offering fresh, innovative planes geared toward more comfy flights is one way to please passengers. And the media buzz generated around forward-thinking aircraft tech and plane design can also help raise the price of a plane-maker's stock. Just take a look at Boeing.
With the increasing media attention surrounding its forthcoming Dreamliner plane, set for debut in 2008, the company's stock crossed the $80 mark for the first time ever on Apr. 6. The Dreamliner is the first commercial aircraft to be made of lightweight carbon composites and, in turn, offers a less noisy flight.
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