Under an agreement signed at Aircraft Interior Expo 2018 today in Hambourg, the European giant aircraft manufacturer Airbus contracted Zodiac Cabin to jointly work on a way to use lower-deck facilities. The idea is to design this part of the plane to make it usable by passenger and improve the passenger experience.
New working space inside aircraft
Until today and at least untill 2020 this free space was used as cargo space or staff resting facilities during long haul flight. In order to transform this space and make it profitable for passenger experience, the European companies want to transform and use it as sleeping berths, meeting rooms, office desk or open space, that could be used as children playing's area for example.
This innovation could then be a real advancement in passenger flight experience, as children could be playing there or workers could do their job comfortably.
Easily interchangeable with ordinary cargo
Each modules will be 4m wide, 2.4m long and 1.5m high. This lower deck facilities change will be operated over A330 that has two or three modules according to the aircraft, then the A350-900 that has three modules and also the A350-1000 that can host four modules. These modules will not affect the cargo floor and loading system and will be easily interchangeable with ordinary cargo containers. The concept will be tested in demonstration in 2019 and will be ready in 2020 for both retrofit and line-fit.
“This approach to commercial air travel is a step-change towards passenger comfort. We have already received very positive feedback from several airlines on our first mock-ups. We are pleased to partner with Zodiac Aerospace on this project which will introduce a new passenger experience and add value for airlines.” said Geoff Pinner, Head of Airbus’s cabin & cargo programs