Emirates president Tim Clark believes one of the big interiors challenges for long-haul operators like itself is to get the right product in economy. "The easy bit is premium, economy is what you have to work hard for because for us it generates 70% of the income and will continue to do so," Clark said, during a panel discussion at the launch of Aircraft Interiors Expo. "If you are going to fly ultra-long range missions - 14-16h you are expecting people to fly in the economy cabins, you have to meet the basic requirements."
During the wide-ranging panel discussion, Carter Stewart, aviation services director at Prospect Consulting and Design highlighted that interiors would in the future have to cater for an increasingly diverse range of customers; ranging from an ageing population, the new digital natives and physically larger people - both in height and weight.
Airbus head of aircraft interiors marketing, Bob Lange, also touched upon the likely requirements of the ever-growing low-cost carrier sector. "I think the mood among the low-cost carriers is to still be looking at differentiating in the cabin in intelligent ways, which doesn't necessarily mean a large investment in hardware." In particular he points to the unbundling innovations in anciallary revenues. "This will mean we are likely to see some differential pricing on certain seats on the aircraft. Today there are very strong regulatory limitations as to how aircraft designs and cabins are going to cope with that. But there will be a dynamic behind that will challenge all of us actors in the industry to try and find some more intelligent solutions."
Clark also highlights the increased engagement of the industry on interiors now compared to a decade ago. "I think the fact this show is growing in stature, content and in substance every year shows there seems to be more and more interest in what is going on, and that is why people like me come to this show to learn, to counsel and empart some of the things we know as airline operators know we are going to need."
INTERIORS EXPO 2010
Source: Flight Daily News
