UK-based transportation design consultancy Design Q is trying to help make air travel cheaper by redesigning the seating arrangement inside planes. The new airplane seating concepts focus on high-density seating configurations for short-haul flights.
The design concepts that were unveiled imagine the future of flying as a row of inward facing seats on each side of the aircraft or the same configuration plus two back-to-back rows down the middle of the plane. Light, backless space-conserving seats that can automatically lift, like those in a movie theater, will help airlines save costs. These concepts are a far cry from Design Q’s other notable foray into aeronautic interior design, Virgin Atlantic’s luxurious Upper Class seats.
Still, if these space-saving designs help to cut the cost of a plane ticket, we might just have to start bringing an extra seat cushion in our carry-on.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- High-density Seating
- Opportunity for airlines to maximize space by implementing high-density seating configurations for short-haul flights.
- Space-conserving Seats
- Potential for innovation in designing backless seats that can automatically lift, reducing costs for airlines.
- Inward Facing Seats
- New seating arrangement concept featuring inward facing seats offers an alternative approach to airplane seating layout.
Where This Applies
- Airline
- Airline industry can explore new seating configurations and space-saving designs to improve cost-efficiency.
- Aircraft Interior Design
- Design firms specializing in aircraft interiors can innovate and create more efficient seating arrangements for airlines.
- Transportation Design Consultancy
- Opportunity for transportation design consultancies to assist airlines in redesigning seating arrangements for increased profitability.
