In style

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AIRY FEEL: The light colour of the A380's interior was chosen to enhance a feeling of space and create a more natural feeling to fly in.

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Intelligent lighting creates various scenarios to influence the mood of passengers.

Sunrise lighting, luxurious suites and vibrating seats; it's all change in the world of aircraft interior design.

In the 1960s, when mass commercial travel first became a reality, most passengers didn't think twice about cabin aesthetics. But as aircraft technology developed, expectations were raised and jet interiors have become increasingly more important.

Airbus and Boeing, the two biggest aircraft manufacturers on the market are constantly developing new and innovative ideas to keep customers satisfied.

Making space

Kent Craver, Boeing's regional director of passenger satisfaction and revenue, believes it's important for people to feel ‘welcome' in the aircraft environment. According to the company's extensive design research, travellers do not enjoy the flying experience, which they associate with long waits, early starts and airport traffic.

After consulting psychologists, the airline's design team discovered passengers needed to feel a transition when boarding the aircraft. "By the time customers get to our product they're already in the middle of a bad day, which can overshadow the entire flying experience," explains Craver.

"We didn't want to rely on crew because they're so busy and there aren't enough of them to speak to everyone. We wanted the architecture of the environment itself to welcome passengers," he adds.

The new 787 Dreamliner, which should be in operation later this year, is designed to give the impression of space.

"People board planes through tiny jet bridges; when they get into the aircraft they walk into a wider, brighter, space. Optical illusions create greater depth and height. This change gives people the transition they need," says Craver. The new model can seat around 200-250 passengers, but its high ceilings and wide body give the impression of extra space.

Rival manufacturer, Airbus, has also discovered the merits of extra cabin space on its new 471-seat super jet, the A380. According to Stefanie von Linstow, Airbus' product marketing manager for the A380, the company based its cabin designs on market research.

"We talked to the airlines and the passengers. We had discussions and official meetings with the top airlines in the world and we've been working on different aspects of the A380 since 1996," she says.

With plenty of floor space, extra waste volume and a wider cabin body than any manufacturer has previously designed, the A380 has become one of the most popular new models on the market.

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