Page 54 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 Online Magazine

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Inner Space

Aircraft interiors are now a key element in retaining customer loyalty
By Atul Chandra

WHILE THE WORLd’S LEAdING AIRLINES which results in an unmatched passenger
continue to battle it out for the honours experience because of a quieter cabin, LED
for their First Class and Business Class mood lighting, improved draft-free cabin air
offerings, airframers Airbus and Boeing are conditioning, improved seating with storage
increasingly focussing on their company spaces and more spacious overhead luggage
branded cabin offerings, Airspace and Sky bins, that all contribute to a more comfortable
Interior respectively. For the average traveller appealing cabin atmosphere and ambience
in Economy Class, these new cabin offerings inside the airplane. The range of options on
are delivering airplanes with a substantially offer are also allowing airlines to display a
enhanced interior cabin experience. In-fact not greater differentiation amongst their cabin
only is the physical space inside the aircraft products across all classes. One area that
cabin important, but also the psychological is likely to see even greater utilisation and
impression of airiness and perceived room customisation on airplanes are the new and
that plays a key role in the passenger powerful LED cabin lighting systems; airlines
considering the cabin to be spacious. are yet to utilise these lighting systems
Balancing the demands of aesthetics with to their full extent. At the same In-Flight
the floor space available on the airplane is Entertainment (IFE) is increasingly moving
another important consideration. Airlines are towards wireless IFE and this will increase
Airbus’ Airspace will bring faced with deciding to either make the flight the personalised experience available to the
consistency of interior design on experience even better or addition of more passenger.
its two main widebody aircraft: seats for greater revenue.
the A350 XWB and A330neo. Both airframers, indeed all manufacturers Airbus Airspace
The impact of powerful LED cabin
lighting in creating a calming effect, of commercial jetliners today are focussing on Airbus began work on a new cabin offering
is clearly visible the intangible aspects of an aircraft interior, in 2015 and it was formally launched in 2016
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