Reshaping the way we travel

Collins Aerospace’s Secant Luminous Panel is one example of how LED technology can transform aircraft interiors
Collins Aerospace’s Secant Luminous Panel is one example of how LED technology can transform aircraft interiors

In a Q&A session, RedCabin’s CEO and founder, Monica Wick explains how a focus on bringing leaders from across the transport world together for one purpose is helping to transform the way we travel.

Founded in 2017, RedCabin is home to the global travel summit series, RedCabinLIVE, which focuses on using collaboration and interactivity to develop new products, partnerships and processes that tackle the biggest challenges in transport and travel  to improve the passenger experience.

RedCabin’s broad focus covers the entire aircraft cabin interior, and by adopting this holistic approach is better positioned to understand the changing needs of passengers and crew, and work closely with airlines, designers, and OEMs to develop and introduce new innovations to the onboard experience.

Often, cutting-edge ideas never make it into the skies because radically transforming one area of the cabin unintentionally negatively impacts another. RedCabin brings together the leading minds in aviation to share both their expertise and experiences.

Q) Firstly, what is driving the types of aircraft interior trends and demands placed on your company by today’s customers?

The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the cabin interior – in many ways, for the better. Cleanliness and hygiene are now as important for the onboard experience as comfort and safety. While airlines already operate stringent cabin disinfection routines, the feedback we are getting at our summits is that there is a desire to increase the use of antimicrobial and antiviral materials and coatings in the cabin environment – especially for high-touch points like tray tables, seat backs (or suite doors in premium classes), galleys and bulk heads.

The Aurora Borealis (A/B) radical seatback prototype © Sekisui Kydex
The Aurora Borealis (A/B) radical seatback prototype © Sekisui Kydex

Longer term, there is a growing design trend to use larger, flat surfaces in the cabin which not only reduce split-lines and dirt traps, but also make them easier to clean for ground crew. With its single-piece seat shroud and flat side-stowage, the new Mint cabin from JetBlue is a great example of where the next-generation of cabin interiors are heading.

Q) How important are aerospace legislations, flight safety critical issues and lightweighting during the design stage?

There is a delicate balance between creativity and certification – one which all new interior innovations must find to make it off the sketchpad and into the cabin. Organisations such as EASA and the FAA have a critical role to play in global aircraft safety, and each time a ‘blue-sky’ programme is completed regulations can move forward too.

But this type of collaboration needs to increase and happen earlier in the development of new products. As an industry, we can then streamline our approach to innovation and work much more cohesively to make air travel safer, more accessible, and enjoyable for everyone.

Q) Do you need to adopt a ‘Feng Shui’ visualisation of the cabin interior to create the right impression for air passengers, so it makes them feel like they are ‘flying in their home’?

Space is always at a premium in the aircraft cabin. Every element of the cabin interior needs to justify its presence onboard – whether that be enhancing the passenger experience or bringing ancillary revenues in for the airline.

At our most recent Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit in June, we explored the changing needs of passengers returning to the skies post-Covid and discovered how important it was for airlines and designers to create a relaxing, ‘home-like’ atmosphere onboard. In terms of the cabin interior, this will likely manifest itself in a desire for increased privacy through curved seat shrouds or headrests; a greater use of textiles in the seat environment to create an enhanced perception of comfort; and a more efficient use of space by removing boxy side furniture and replacing it with under-seat stowage and personalised areas for micro-nesting.

Lighting plays a huge role in creating a relaxing environment in the cabin too. The Secant Luminous Panel from Collins Aerospace is one example of how LED technology can transform aircraft ceilings, walls, or bulkheads into customisable visual displays that enhance ambience and distribute light in a more natural, even way; giving passengers the opportunity to be surrounded by a stunning forest scene or starry night-time sky during their flight.

The Interspace by Universal Movement, a ground-breaking premium economy seat
The Interspace by Universal Movement, a ground-breaking premium economy seat

Q) Is there a particular aircraft interior success story you can share without breaking any non-disclosure agreements?

Because of our collaborative nature, RedCabin has become a hotbed for innovation and the home to many new ideas. Take the Aurora Borealis (A/B) Seatback for example: Matthew Coder at Alaska Airlines shared his wish list for a ‘dream’ economy seat with our delegates and within six months a team made up of innovators from Sekisui Kydex, TrendWorks, and Rollon Corporation had created a radical seatback prototype featuring a split tray table, a textured modular insert, an appBar including coloured light indicators to give passengers real-time information on meal times and lavatory access, a media easel for personal devices, and soft storage for in-flight essentials.

Our Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit was also home to the global unveiling of Interspace by Universal Movement: a ground-breaking premium economy seat with two easily deployable padded wings that fold out from the seat back to provide greater lateral support, allowing passengers to rotate and lean on a cushioned surface.

Q) What kinds of aircraft interior developments will we be seeing in the future?

Touchless technologies were already making their way into the cabin pre-Covid, but the pandemic has certainly sped up the development of new innovations. Both All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Diehl Aviation have now developed ‘hands-free’ lavatories to enhance onboard hygiene.

However, the degree to which the cabin interior will change long-term is still not clear. While privacy dividers, seat shrouds, and suite doors are commonplace nowadays, the idea of using the interior to ‘cocoon’ passengers is one that takes on extra relevance for the future – especially as more narrow body aircraft come into service.

In the short term, it is unlikely the economy cabin will change radically in terms of seating layouts or hard products – owing to the cost and viability of retro-fitting an entire fleet at a time when revenues are down. Instead, airlines may choose to invest in personalised IFE experiences – which can be accessed via passengers’ smartphones or laptops – to help reduce the amount of contact between passengers and seatback displays.

JetBlue’s new Mint cabin is a great example of where the next generation of cabin interiors are heading
JetBlue’s new Mint cabin is a great example of where the next generation of cabin interiors are heading

Longer term, there is a determined focus to improve sustainability and accessibility onboard, by using more lightweight, environmentally-friendly materials and by developing new solutions which help improve the flying experience for disabled passengers – especially when it comes to using the onboard lavatory. IATA has recently established a new Action Group to help tackle the latter issue, so we are looking forward to seeing its recommendations and the new innovations which will follow in response.

Q) What do you feel are the most important assets of a company?

If the pandemic taught us anything, it is that people are without doubt the most important part of any organisation. Ideas come from people. Partnerships are developed by people. And it is people who drive change. The aviation industry is packed full of resilient, creative, and passionate people who are working tirelessly to pioneer new ideas that make air travel more sustainable, inclusive, and enjoyable for us all.

Q) What differentiates your company from the competition?

RedCabin is built on the firm belief that collaboration leads to innovation. It is a simple principle but one which we have spent the last four years living and breathing every day, and it informs everything we do.

RedCabin’s CEO and founder, Monica Wick
RedCabin’s CEO and founder, Monica Wick

Ultimately, the way we travel is changing. And the modes of transport we use are evolving, so the industry needs to evolve too. Our summits are global forums for progress and represent positive change in the aviation industry.  Together with the world’s biggest airlines, design houses, airframers, and suppliers we are driving innovation which is helping to tackle the biggest and most pressing challenges facing passengers and operators today.

As aviation looks to kick-start its post-Covid recovery, the importance of collaboration and open, honest discussion between all stakeholders has never been greater. Whether passengers can fly will ultimately depend on governments around the world, but giving them a reason to want to get back on a plane is the industry’s next challenge. And we must embrace it. And that is why we are putting the call out for new voices to join our summits today and be a part of building the aviation industry of tomorrow.

Q) Would you say that your long-standing partnerships have brought huge benefits, particularly as trusted relationships can lead to a better way forward for all?

We have been lucky enough to witness first-hand the power of partnership. In the last 18 months, when it needed to the most, the aviation industry rallied together, put competitive advantage aside and set about combining its knowledge and expertise to not only ensure air travel remained safe but that the next generation of cabin interior programmes enhanced the flying experience.

Our ongoing partnerships with pioneering organisations like Safran Cabin, Adient Aerospace, Sekisui Kydex, EOS, Zotefoams, Reell, AERQ, E-Leather and PACE have been crucial to our success. Working alongside these industry giants is not only helping RedCabin flourish, but is also ensuring our industry continues to reap the rewards of collaboration.

And that is the key – the standout partnerships are those which benefit participants, but also bring something new to the table which enhances the flying experience.

Q) Finally, where to next for your company?

As the reputation and popularity of our global summit series has grown, we have been able to lead cross-industry discussions and help aviation benefit from the knowledge and expertise from other transport industries.

Our focus is on bringing leaders from across the transport world together for one purpose: to transform how we travel. To do that we have now created powerful forums for the aviation, rail, and automotive industries to come together, assess and debate the major challenges and trends, and develop new interior products and partnerships which help address these – for both passengers and operators.  Our next Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit is taking place on the shores of Lake Constance in Germany (6-9 December) and will be hosted by ZIM Aircraft Seating. We hope to see many of you there!

www.redcabin.de

Company

RedCabin

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