The planes of the future will be virtual reality, yoga studios and cauliflower
In 2018, Qantas introduced the first uninterrupted communication between Europe and Australia. A 17-hour long flight like this is only possible because aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus have spent decades on innovations, including wing shapes and more durable and lightweight materials. But keeping the plane in the air all day is useless if you can’t entertain people in tight and boring cabins. Therefore, the plans include the inclusion of wider seats, lamps, which reprogram circadian rhythms, and the air in the cabin, which is more pleasant to breathe.
Also plans to speed up Wi-Fi. But it’s better to hurry: Qantas plans to launch 22-hour flights as early as 2022.
Why are the seats in the airplanes so narrow?
The most precious centimeters on the plane are those on which we sit. Air travel economics cause most passengers to squeeze into places that are no more than 42 centimeters in diameter. But for long trips you may have to return wider places. Studies of the London Sleep Center show that increasing the width of even a few centimeters improves the quality of passenger sleep by 53%. Also, airlines are looking for ways to provide more leg space. One of the options: upholste the seat backs with a thinner material.
Why are airplanes so tasteless?
Qantas worked with nutritionists to develop an anti-malaria menu for 17-hour walks from Perth to London. In food, special attention is paid to fresh ingredients with a high water content, such as cucumbers, strawberries, celery and leafy greens, so that passengers are not too dehydrated. It helps to reduce fatigue and headaches.
Singapore Airlines also rewrite the menu for its 18-hour flights to New York. Foods low in salt retain visitors' hydration, and also contain a minimum of carbohydrates, preventing an increase in blood sugar. The company is currently considering replacing potatoes with cauliflower.
Why do airplanes lack air?
Have you ever wondered why you feel tired after a long flight? Perhaps this is due to the fact that most aircraft cabins recreate the atmosphere of the Earth at an altitude of 2000 meters, where rarefied air makes our hearts and lungs work very hard to supply the body with oxygen. Increasing air pressure in most airplanes will lead to a load on weak points such as windows and doors, but Boeing has strengthened its 777X's fuselage to hold a height of 3000 meters in the cockpit. This also means increased humidity, which should alleviate the problem of dry eyes and itching nose during transcontinental flights.
Take off and off
Perhaps the easiest way to improve a long flight is to help passengers forget that they are flying at all. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi in flight reaches a speed of 15 Mbit / s, not more. Airbus wants to improve this situation by connecting improved communications satellites and data stations. But even if the on-board Internet will never support streaming, future passengers will be able to enjoy excellent entertainment options. Airbus is experimenting with OLED displays and virtual reality headsets.
Awakening in the middle of the night
Our bodies set their circadian clocks in accordance with the cycles of light and darkness. Many airlines are already using the strategy of full-color LED lighting on long-haul flights to prevent passengers from falling asleep - bright colors and light imitate daylight, and warm pink colors help the body to fall asleep. Airbus has developed 17 million light and color combinations that go beyond imitating day and night. These light therapy methods mimic various external conditions and can help synchronize passengers' internal clocks with the time zone of destination.
Sleep at work
Long routes require several groups of crews working in shifts.Pilots on vacation sleep right under the cabin or above the business class. Attendants usually sleep in bunkers hidden above the last rows in economy class. But there is little space, so no one really gets enough sleep. Both Boeing and Airbus are upgrading: wider and longer beds with increased upper space, covered with thick, noise-absorbing curtains.
Comfort zones
Most airplanes hide additional cargo compartments in their peritoneum. But few airlines actually fill the entire cargo space. The Airbus A330 is as much as 55 square meters - the size of a large apartment. This place can be converted into a hospital or a business center, a game room, a chic lounge, a yoga studio or a gym - all for travelers.