# Accessible Airplane Seats The Air-Chair Addresses the Travel Woes Experienced by Disabled People By Justin Lam | Published 2018-12-14 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airchair References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2018/12/14/student-designed-air-chair-allows-disabled-passengers-one-chair-whole-journey/) & [jamesdysonaward.org](https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-AE/2018/project/air-chair-1/) Designed by two students from the United Arab Emirates, the Air-Chair is a new concept piece that helps [disabled passengers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sofia-mobility) use a single chair for their entire journey when flying. [Air travel for disabled people](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/avianca-accessible) generally requires multiple seat changes, which can become quite taxing and exhausting. To solve this, the Air-Chair simply slides over the top of [standard airplane seats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airline-chair) and allows passengers to remain in place for the duration of the journey. To create a chair that could easily slip over an existing seat, the designers gave the Air-Chair a hollowed-out C shape. The wheeled portions easily fit underneath the standard airplane seat, while a locking mechanism secures the chair in place and allows the user to access the provided seatbelt and reach for the life vest. The Air-Chair has already received recognition as a concept piece and has received recognition from the James Dyson Awards. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.8/10 - Popularity: 52% | Activity: 25% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Accessible Air Travel:** The Air-Chair's ability to allow disabled passengers to stay in a single chair during flights creates opportunities for innovations to improve air travel accessibility for all. - **Inclusive Aircraft Seating:** The Air-Chair's universal design for seamless integration with existing airplane seats can spur innovations for creating more inclusive seating options for all passengers. - **Convenient Disability Support:** The Air-Chair's design concept can inspire innovations for creating more convenient and user-friendly support solutions for disabled individuals in various contexts, beyond air travel. ### Who This Affects Most - **Aerospace:** The Air-Chair's innovation disrupts the aerospace industry by introducing new design concepts that will improve passenger experience and satisfaction for those with disabilities. - **Disability Services:** The Air-Chair's concept can disrupt the disability services industry by inspiring new innovations for more mobile, user-friendly, and versatile support solutions for disabled individuals. - **Transportation:** The Air-Chair's innovation can disrupt the transportation industry by inspiring new innovations to create more accessible, user-friendly modes of transportation for individuals with disabilities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Disability-Friendly Aircraft Seats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-4-all.md) - [Accessible Airline Seats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airline-seat.md) - [Lightweigght Onboard Wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onboard-wheelchair.md) - [Electric Mobility Aids Transportation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-mobility-aids.md) - [Sliding Seat-Equipped Wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/accompanying-wheelchair.md) - [Space Travel-Inspired Chair Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aerospace-seat-spn01.md) - [Wheelchair-Mindful Airline Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/travel-experiences.md) - [Relaxing Airplane Seat Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tranquil-airlines-seating-technology.md) - [Autonomous Airport Mobility Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whill-is.md)