Class Concepts: Interaction Zone and Cinema Class
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New ideas from Teague, Zodiac Aerospace, Airbus, Virgin and more are leaving traditional cabin configurations in the dust. In “Class Concepts,” a multi-part feature originally published in the March/April issue of APEX Experience magazine, APEX Media examines this new wave of concepts that promises a total overhaul of aircraft interiors. Read the full feature here.
Interaction Zone
When Airbus conducted research for its 2050 Concept Cabin, one-third of travelers polled shared that they wanted their vacation to begin on the flight itself, not when they land at their destination. That response, plus all the high-tech advancements that will propel us into the neo-fifties, led Airbus to develop an Interaction Zone, where passengers can do virtually anything they want – emphasis on “virtually.”
Airbus estimates that by 2050, virtual reality and highly personalized technology will be the norm, both on the ground and in the air. As a passenger enters the Interaction Zone, touch-sensitive panels with biometric capabilities will download the individual’s profile so that it can tailor engaging activities to his or her preferences.
Those who like shopping can go a step beyond window-shopping with a virtual wall that will let them browse and purchase items. The athletic type can partake in virtual tennis, golf or baseball games. Those with work to do won’t have to miss business meetings or lectures – and for thrill-seekers, Airbus’ Fusion Ball will see them playing an extreme game of catch across New York City skyscrapers and the Himalayan peaks.
Cinema Class
What happens when a cabin class is designed with the passenger experience – and not the current paradigm of seat pitch and width – in mind? “Could we deliver something where people would actually pay more to be on board a Cinema Class?” asks Devin Liddell. Poppi passengers with a Cinema Class ticket are seated in a secluded cabin that
resembles a movie theater, with curtains on two sides, dimmed lights and an overhead screen. The onboard cinema would run exclusive TV shows and films, and provide a unique midair screening opportunity for the studios, but also for passengers: Imagine watching the entire Star Wars saga with other fans on a long-haul flight! Immersed in such a cinema-like experience, anxious flyers might be more inclined to board an airplane. And with popcorn becoming more of a staple on the in-flight snack menu, the idea of a Cinema Class really doesn’t seem that far-fetched.