Enjoy Bunk Beds When Flying Overseas
Air New Zealand’s Skynest has been given one of the industry’s highest honors, the prestigious Crystal Cabin Award, at the 2022 Aircraft Interiors Expo. Now offering economy-class seating with bunk beds in the sky, Skynest has generated plenty of enthusiasm among long-haul travelers who appreciate their sleep. Not only are the new bunk beds exciting, they are now a reality. In fact, this airline-manufactured item is slated to take off in 2024.
Other noteworthy winners from the show in Hamburg, Germany include Collins Aerospace’s InteliSence concept, which utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and data collected from onboard cameras and sensors to monitor passengers’ journeys. Collins stated that their priority is to assist airlines in maximizing energy usage, stocking the aircraft, and reducing the labor of the crew, as well as providing passengers with a more customized in-flight experience.
Getting their feet in the door of the aviation industry, a team of students from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands took home a prize for their Lightweight Aircraft Seating concept – a cushion that is designed to be lightweight without sacrificing comfort. Lantal Textiles’ Deep Dyed Carpet was also honored for its potential to reduce airplane CO2 emissions through a lighter, more environmentally friendly cabin carpet.
Many are encouraged by the efforts that the aviation industry has been taking to address its environmental impact, even though much progress still needs to be made. The emergence of more sustainable innovations in this sector is a positive sign.
According to the president of the Crystal Cabin Award Association, Lukas Kaestner, winners often have a ripple effect on the aviation industry. This was the case with Delta’s 2017 victory for its Delta One business class suite featuring an ultra-private sliding door. Following their big win, most overseas business-class cabins began featuring sliding doors. Kaestner also indicated that even though airlines with shorter flights may not require the same type of seating solution as Air New Zealand’s Skynest, they will still be keeping a close eye on exactly how it performs. Will passengers love their bunk beds, or will it be a waste of space?
Since 1914, when the first scheduled commercial flight in the U.S. occurred in Florida, riding commercial airlines has undergone a series of modifications, with the most recentbeing a bit drastic. As flying became more popular around the world, airlines sought to outdo each other in order to attract customers. This led to a marked improvement in the quality of the flight, making it smoother, as well as safer. Plus, passengers would dress in their finest attire to enjoy bottomless cocktails, live entertainment, multicourse meals served on fine china with white tablecloths, and other indulgences in the air.In the 1950s, it became a trend for big commercial airlines to replace their luxurious sleeper service, which had offered berth-style beds for transatlantic flights, with faster planes and more space for seating. In order to maximize their profits, airlines have reduced the space between seats, imposed numerous additional charges, and eliminated complimentary meals on many flights.