Voxpop

Airbus is considering the introduction of standing room only at the back of its aircraft, according to press reports. Is putting passengers in harnesses a step forward in air travel, and what other blue-sky innovations could ‘improve’ the flying experience?



Trains, buses and Tubes have offered this option for years, so why not aeroplanes? Standing is not the first choice for most long-having to clamber over sleeping passengers to get to the toilet would be good. Clothing free of creases, no table, so no airline meals – I’m convinced. Strap me in, Scotty.


Dave Dragon, Creative director, Clinic



Stop press! The escalating race between major airlines, delivering executives to far-away destinations, arriving refreshed and well rested, reaches its foregone conclusion with the imminent introduction of the Suspended Animation Class by a recently-formed consortium of future-thinking airlines. Check-in lounges serve suitable pre-flight drinks as you hit the SAC and fall into a hypnotically-induced, dreamless sleep that maintains your body at optimum levels for a predetermined time, but also, subliminally, imprints the safety demonstration at the forefront of your memory.


David Bicknell, Creative director, Echo Brand Design


It is certainly not a step forward. Airlines seem to spend their development effort making life better for the minority who travel at the front of the aeroplane, while the majority travel in a state of high discomfort. Get the basics right before anything else – seats that support bad backs, toilets that you can manoeuvre in, luggage compartments that you can reach and sound insulation that works. After that, we can consider ‘blue-sky thinking’.


Raymond Turner, Raymond Turner Associates



This is an interesting and innovative notion – at least from the airlines’ perspective – as it could, certainly, allow for increased passenger load and reduced ticket-pricing. And, within some parts of the world, it may, in fact, be an acceptable – or even popular – innovation. But, from a brand perspective, are airlines (and aircraft manufacturers) truly considering, or perhaps completely ignoring, their passengers’ real needs through innovations such as this?


Bill Larsen, Executive director, Landor Associates

Start the discussionStart the discussion
  • Post a comment

Latest articles