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OEMs, Designers Pushing Monumental Changes In Lavatories
Touch-free systems have become more common in aircraft lavatories since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cabin interior designers and OEMs are turning more of their attention to the lavatory. Accessibility, hygiene, space optimization and predictive maintenance are some of the features in focus.
“The OEMs are especially looking at accessibility on narrowbody lavatories,” says Gary Weissel, managing officer at Tronos Aviation Consulting, referring to a U.S. Transportation Department final rule dated Oct. 2, 2023, that will require compliance in three years.
“Creating lavatory solutions that are better able to accommodate passengers with mobility issues, or passengers with conditions that may require added assistance, is quickly becoming a key criterion for airlines and OEMs around the world,” adds Tim Lehnig, director of sales for interior products at Collins Aerospace. “Collins is actively engaged in this area and is developing products that allow a passenger to make an assisted or unassisted transfer from the onboard wheelchair with complete privacy.”
OEMs are not the only ones that are seeking solutions for the narrowbody lavatories. “In the retrofit market, there’s growing demand for lavatories that are wheelchair-accessible, particularly those meeting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2026 regulations that require features for assisted transfer inside the lavatory,” says Sebastian Tivig, senior expert for cabin safety at Diehl Aviation.
Diehl captured the 2025 Crystal Cabin Award in the accessibility category for its Space3 design, which combines three lavatories with four additional seats in a modular layout. The lavatory features a patent-pending folding-wall mechanism and a wide-entry door, providing sufficient space for wheelchair users and enabling assisted or independent transfers. Inside, passengers benefit from multiple ergonomic grab handles, touchless operation and lighting designed for orientation and comfort.
“Space3 meets the upcoming U.S. [Transportation Department] accessibility regulations for 2026, including requirements for onboard assisted transfer,” Tivig says. “At the same time, it offers up to 80 kg [176 lb.] of weight savings compared with conventional long-range lavatory setups, delivering both inclusivity and operational efficiency.” Space3 is expected to be flying in 2026, he adds.
In addition to accessibility, Weissel reports that some suppliers are considering adding Braille and touchless voice response for the visually impaired. “For example, if you pass your hand in front of a faucet, a speaker will state ‘faucet.’ ”
Other touchless components—including faucets, toilet flush mechanisms and soap dispensers—are among the hygiene-related enhancements the new generation of lavatories is incorporating. Lehnig points to trends toward systems that do not require direct, hands-on contact. “Integrated throughout the lavatory, touchless systems can reduce the number of frequent touchpoints and the spread of germs to improve overall hygiene,” he says. “Simpler designs, such as foot-operated doors, pedal-operated sinks and elbow-forearm push pads, can augment hygienic practices where touchless technologies may not be practical.”
“There has been a huge push to add antimicrobials to most touch parts, as well as floors and shrouds to cut down on odors” since the COVID-19 pandemic, says Teddy Gil, chief administrative officer at Sheffield Aerospace, a design and engineering services and consulting firm. Gil views space optimization, odor control, appliance efficiency, sustainability, hygiene and accessibility as the primary areas of airliner lavatory design focus.
“Lighter-weight parts, more eco-friendly part production and reduced water usage—hence weight savings—are being incorporated, as well as self-cleaning areas and more efficient appliances, such as water heaters, lights, faucets and improved waste disposal systems,” he says.
Materials and Maintenance
Gil adds that automated lavatory monitoring systems, incorporating smart sensors that track usage, waste levels and malfunctions, provide tangible benefits, such as predictive maintenance and reduced downtime, as well as data collection for optimizing cleaning schedules and enhanced passenger experience from timely servicing.
“This, in turn, helps to identify parts issues to help suppliers improve their reliability to include—but not limited to—valves and pumps,” Gil says. “This further helps to reduce water consumption, which reduces weight.”
Lavatories are also incorporating more modular designs than previous generations, enabling required component replacements to be carried out more quickly without disassembly of entire systems, Lehnig says.
Collins is incorporating sustainability as a feature in structural materials. Among them is the OEM’s STARLight, which Lehnig describes as a “lightweight composite that can be integrated into nearly any structure” inside an aircraft cabin, including lavatories.
“STARLight composites are lightweight, strong and monolithically formed, which reduces overall parts count, material used in production and aircraft weight,” Lehnig says. “Also, STARLight’s inherent properties contribute to less lavatory system maintenance, because the material is built to last longer with fewer components needing repair or replacement.”
Safran Cabin Product Marketing Director Julie Imbert reports that the OEM is designing both galleys and lavatories to be more maintenance-efficient. One key innovation she cites is the replacement of metal pipes in the water system with plastic tubing. “This not only simplifies maintenance and replacement but also offers several advantages,” she explains. “Plastic tubing is lighter, more affordable and requires less energy to manufacture than metal pipes, making the entire system more efficient and cost-effective.”
Imbert also notes Safran Cabin’s Revolution is designed to be easy to maintain with line replaceable units that can be exchanged on-wing for faster turn times. The system has also been designed for lower water consumption per flush and a reduction in weight.
At the Aircraft Interiors Expo on April 14-16, Safran Cabin promoted its Airbus A350 lavatory, a design collaboration between the two companies. Equipped with touchless features and antimicrobial surfaces, its main features include an oversize LED-lit wall-to-wall mirror that creates a sense of spaciousness, along with RGB (red, green and blue) mood lighting for added comfort and customizable options, such as amenity towers, cabinets and drawer modules. The lavatory also features faucets and waste flaps with both mechanical and touchless functionalities, combining innovation with passenger comfort.
Tivig cites a growing trend among airlines to use lavatories as an extension of their brands through decor, lighting scenarios, embedded logos and premium fittings. Along that line, he points to Diehl Aviation’s innovative eDecor technology—a 2025 Crystal Cabin Award finalist in the Cabin Concepts category.
“The eDecor solution opens up new possibilities for customization and brand flexibility, enhancing the passenger experience while maintaining efficiency and sustainability compared with traditional decors,” Tivig explains. “Utilizing advanced, lightweight electronic paper (E-Ink), eDecor allows cabin surfaces—including lavatory walls and panels—to dynamically change colors, patterns or branding elements without continuous power consumption.”
Another lavatory innovation, Tivig notes, is Diehl’s ECO Grey Water Reuse System, which collects water from the lavatory sink and reuses it to flush the toilet. “Not only does this reduce overall water consumption onboard, but it also contributes to weight savings, helping to lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions,” he says.
Whenever possible, Tivig adds, the OEM selects materials with better recyclability. “For example, we are switching from composite ceiling parts to aluminum, which is easier to process in end-of-life scenarios and fits well into circular economy principles,” he explains. “We are also actively exploring next-generation sustainable materials—including bio-based fibers, more ecological paint systems and design approaches that simplify disassembly and recycling. These concepts are still under development, but they show we are headed toward a lavatory that not only meets operational needs but also supports long-term environmental goals.”
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