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Airbus Designing Bed-Containing Modules to be Placed in Passenger Jet Cargo Compartments

...and basement rec rooms, too

By Rain Noe - April 16, 2018

in Interior/Exhibition Design

Remember our deep dive into the parts of the airplane you never get to see, the long-haul crew rest areas? In a few years, passengers may also get to experience what it's like to catch some shut-eye in a dedicated airplane bed. Airbus and Zodiac Aerospace, a French supplier of airplane interior fittings, have announced they're expanding the passenger experience down into the cargo hold with a sleeping area for paying fliers. But instead of permanently retrofitting airplanes, the two companies are collaborating on the design of modules that can be slid into an A330 and will contain sleeping berths.

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They're also working up concepts for other living-space-like modules:

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And here's a walkthrough of several of these modules ganged together:

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"The new passenger modules," Airbus writes, "will be easily interchangeable with regular cargo containers during a typical turnaround if required." The company is betting that long-haul airlines seeking to differentiate their service will buy in, attracted by the flexibility--and the ability to sell what will undoubtedly be a very expensive, if novel, nap.

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Aran Pudney

6 years ago

Z

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Isnt the cargo hold usually un-pressurised? And freaking cold?

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- Matt Levine
  
  Aran Pudney
  
  6 years ago
  
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  Most Airliners pressurize the cargo hold at the same altitude pressure as the passenger cabin. Prevents damage to cargo that is altitude sensitive and allows for in flight accessibility if needed.
  
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- Dave Ross
  
  Aran Pudney
  
  6 years ago
  
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  The entire "tube" is pressurized, its one of the reasons they are cylindrical... the heating is a different story though that is dictated by aircraft configuration options followed by how the operator wants to manage it... more heat, more fuel and vice versa.
  
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