At Aircraft Interiors Expo this week in Hamburg, Aviation Week Network editors discuss the new products that have caught their attention, and share their thoughts about the major trends they see in cabin design and manufacturing.
Satellite operator Viasat is counting on its next-generation ViaSat-3 satellites to drastically improve inflight connectivity, as the first of three spacecraft plans to launch in 2022.
Disabled persons currently cannot bring their own wheelchair on board commercial passenger aircraft; the Air4All consortium is working on a solution for carriers.
Two companies aiming to improve inflight connectivity have carried out what they describe as the successful delivery of high-speed, low-latency inflight connectivity from a low-Earth-orbit satellite to a commercial airliner.
Thales has unveiled Avant Up, the latest evolution of its inflight entertainment systems, featuring an improved display and smart charging for the passenger’s devices.
As cabin interiors designers and manufacturers roll out innovative and out-of-the box-thinking, they may not be considering the sustainability and lessor costs at end-of-lease.
Panasonic Avionics hopes that the lower weight of its new seatback connectivity system means that it will be installed on regional aircraft and narrowbodies as well as IFE systems’ more traditional home of widebody platforms.
Safran is expanding the onboard audio experience with its Euphony wireless system for business and first-class seats that provides passengers with a headset-free individual sound system.
As the industry moves beyond the pandemic, designers and innovators are looking to the next generation of aircraft and what passenger experience could look like.
Thanks to faster life cycles from design to replacement, passenger cabins may lead the way in aviation’s sustainability endeavor, experts said during a panel discussion at the Passenger Experience Conference here on June 13.
On the eve of this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Hong Kong’s HAECO Cabin Solutions and Germany’s Diehl Aviation have jointly introduced three cabin interior products for the narrowbody market.
Air France is working on new designs for its long-haul La Première cabin to be launched during the winter 2023/2024 season, building on its recent long-haul business cabin upgrade.
Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom have formed a partnership with offshore communications specialist Tampnet that will improve European Aviation Network (EAN) inflight connectivity on high-density Northern European routes.
AirShield aims to further clear the cabin air by improving the effectiveness of overhead vents to prevent the spread of viruses by creating a protective air barrier around each passenger. It is expected to be FAA-certified by July.
Alaska Airlines and JetBlue Airways have joined Boeing, Safran, Panasonic Avionics and U.S. IT company Riverbed Technology in the Seamless Air Alliance (SAA), which aims to make it easier for passengers to access inflight connectivity.
