Airbus presented its ideas for what it calls the “Airspace Cabin Vision 2035+” during a virtual press conference on May 30, 2023.
The concept was presented to media by Stan Shparberg, head of Marketing Airbus Commercial Aircraft, and Ingo Wuggetzer, head of Cabin Marketing, and focused on what the European manufacturer sees as the future of the airline passenger experience in the year 2035 and beyond.
Sustainability is the main theme pervading this vision.
In addition to the projects Airbus is currently working on in the field of green propulsion, for example a hydrogen propulsion program called ZEROe, the planemaker, highlighted that cabin improvements could yield an additional 10 to 20% in overall weight gains. This could contribute to total fuel consumption improvements.
Many of these gains would derive from weight reductions with innovative materials, improved design and the adoption of new procedures, such as new technology-enabled catering concepts that will mostly involve the on-demand pre-ordering of inflight meals on short-haul flights and new trolley designs for long-haul.
Airbus estimates a reduction of up to 40% of structural weight gains by 2030.
In its Airspace Cabin Vision 2035+ Airbus delves further into biomimicry, adopting designs that aim to imitate the shapes and forms found in nature in order to improve the passenger experience and the performance of the aircraft.
While some concept renderings were displayed during the presentation Airbus representatives said that more specific details will be unveiled at the upcoming Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023, which will take place June 6-8, 2023, in Hamburg, Germany.
Airbus also disclosed that 10 airlines, including Delta Airlines, Air New Zealand and Lufthansa, as well as eight technology suppliers, have been involved in the elaboration of the Airspace Cabin Vision 2035+. The manufacturer has also relied on in-depth passenger surveys to define the main guidelines of cabin product development in the years to come.
