The aircraft seat is becoming more than just a place to sit.
Be assured as you take your place on the assigned seat, someone somewhere is drawing up plans on how airline seats could be more effective on how it does.
An airline seat is a seat on an airliner in which passengers are accommodated for the duration of the journey. Such seats are usually arranged in rows running across the airplane’s fuselage.
Safety and Comfort
For safety, the seats are attached to rails on the fuselage and this facilitates their removal or reconfiguration if the airline so desires. For passenger safety, airline seats are equipped with seatbelts, and there is a “Fasten Seatbelts” sign above each seat which is lit up when passengers are expected to remain seated with the seatbelt fastened. The seatbelt sign is kept On, during taxiing, take-off, and landing, although turbulence may also prompt the Captain to turn on this sign.
Seats are equipped with further amenities depending on class and/or time of flight. Airline seats may be equipped with a reclining mechanism for increased passenger comfort, folding trays for eating and reading and also feature a pocket which may contain an in-flight magazine and safety instructions. Seats may also be equipped with power ports, adjustable headrest, reading light, air conditioning nozzle, call button, infotainment system, lumber support, adjustable headrest etc.
When evaluating the size (and comfort) of a seat, the main terms used are distance between rows (pitch) and width.
- Seat pitch refers to the space between a point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front of it. More seat pitch can mean more legroom, but the legroom is also affected by the thickness of the seat cushion width. The pitch in Economy class varies from 74 to 81 cm.
It was reported in 2016 that the average distance between seat rows has declined to 79 centimeters, from over 89 centimeters two decades ago.
- Seat width is the distance from armrest to armrest. As with the case of seat pitch, the average seat width has shrunk to 43 centimetres from 46 centimetres in the previous two decades.
- Airlines have claimed that a reduction of seat pitch can be compensated for by a thinner seat-back design.
Today seats are getting smarter and more evolved. Further lighter material is used in order to reduce zero fuel weight and save precious fuel. A decade back, seatback infotainment screens were introduced on airline seats. However, wi-fi and personal devices have made them redundant and airlines took no time in abandoning them. Not only does that ensure passengers have their preferred content available to them, but also there is an additional benefit in the reduction of aircraft weight with BYOD (bring your own device). This also helps in bringing down aircraft and maintenance costs.
- BYOD system has been facilitated by providing charging points and reliable wi-fi.
- Airlines are moving towards downloadable ‘App’ which would further enhance the passenger experience by providing intelligent functionality and downloadable contents as per their choice for their future viewing while traveling with the airline. Airlines are now looking at ways to provide onboard wifi to its passengers to meet their demand for connectivity.
- Consumer electronics have a very short life span (3-5 years) whereas aircraft life span is for average 30 years. Cabin architects are facing huge challenge of how to build an airplane that will enable them to meet these changing consumer needs. The aircraft manufacturers are pushing for flexible connected aircraft architecture and in-flight streaming so as to keep the cost of refurbishing low with the change in consumer electronic technology.
What can be expected?
Whatever be the case, passengers would continue to demand more space, comfort, and all-around connectivity with increasing data requirements. While airlines will try to squeeze every inch so as to put more seats onboard.
Passengers want more room, airlines want more seats.
Various new concepts have been demonstrated that might satisfy everyone. These concepts include face to face seating like on military planes, elevated seating, or mix seating facing front and rear. It is estimated that it can increase passenger seats from 30 to 50%. A big plus for airlines looking to cut costs in a period of declining profit. The seats and lighter and would cost less by 20 to 30%. The benefits for passengers would be faster and safer boarding and exit, similar or more comfort, and lesser ticket cost.
Divided Economy Class
First-class and Business class seats have been pampered with every feasible luxury and comfort in the last two decades. But very soon we are likely to witness a new generation of poor man economy class “upright” aircraft seats. These seats could boost passenger numbers by 20% and allow airlines to introduce “ultra-high density” seating configurations in aircraft cabins.
This could allow Low-cost airlines (LCC) to introduce mixed classes boarded on the same aircraft with introduction of premium economy class along with the traditional economy and upright aircraft seats which I call as Coach Class. LCC would be able to offer passengers mixed classes thus offering more choice to passengers without a reduction in the number of seats or one class with more seats. The Upright seats will primarily work for short-haul flights (less than 90 min).
These upright seats are installed at reduced pitch (60 cm), meaning passengers are more upright, while maintaining an adequate comfort. The seats have back support and armrests but are lacking the seat cushion and tray tables. The seats also weigh 50% less than standard economy class seats and featureless components, making them cheaper to maintain.
I believe that these Upright seats (Coach class) could revolutionize low-cost air travel and open up destinations to people currently unable to afford to fly.
Airlines have used various cost-cutting methods in the past to lure passengers by reducing ticket prices. Upright seats are yet to pass safety tests regarding how they will fare in an emergency evacuation. While no airlines have stated they have plans to introduce them there has been intense interest in these seats.
The key is, no matter what story you tell, make the buyer, the hero.
Although LCCs have pursued a number of different business models, common to all is a laser-focus on the customer: identifying what prospective airline passengers value—that is, what they are willing to pay for—and then offering them products to meet that demand. Aviation is a cyclical industry subject to surges in the cost of fuel, not to mention crises such as terrorist attacks and health scares, LCCs have understood that maintaining a competitive advantage requires a relentless drive to cut costs, expand revenues, and maximize efficiency. Are they willing to embrace the new idea?
But would you try the new way of flying?
Would passengers be happy to pay less to sit upright for an entire flight?
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
It is only a matter of time before airlines shed their initial hesitation and embrace the whole new idea for travel. I think.
