Airbus is edging closer to putting railway-like sleeping berths in the belly of its long-range aircraft, including the globe-striding Airbus A350-1000ULR which Qantas is considering for non-stop ‘Project Sunrise’ flights to London and New York.
Although the concept also espouses using cargo-hold space for everything from cafe-like social areas to meeting rooms and family rooms, airlines have shown the most interest in offering sleeping bunks where passengers could stretch out in a proper bed.
Airbus estimates that 32 bunk beds could fit under the main deck, and would primarily appeal to passengers in premium economy and economy buying the beds as an “upgrade for sleeping”.
“So far we have got a lot of interest, with a lot of the creative solutions, but in the end I think everybody is focusing on sleeping,” says Ingo Wuggetzer, Airbus Vice President for Cabin Marketing.
“You go there and have a bed, a real bed, which is fantastic opportunity I think for economy class travel to upgrade for overnight flights, special flights and so on.”
However, some airlines “might sell it only on a per-hour basis, others want to sell it only as one full sleeping bed experience for the whole flight, so there are different ideas about how you offer it to passengers.”
Wuggetzer tells Australian Business Traveller that passengers would still need to be in their regular seats at takeoff and landing, but once the aircraft reaches level flight, the staircase to the downstairs area would be opened up.
Meal services would also take place in the main cabin, with the below-decks area mainly for sleeping – it wouldn’t even have toilets due to the low ceiling height – and cabin crew would only need to visit the space as needed.
“One important question (for us) was, is it really necessary to have a flight attendant all the time in that area? I think that was confirmed now that we do not need that. We can cover that with cameras and microphones and regular (visits)… every 15-20 minutes a flight attendant is walking around to see if everything is fine.”
Photo gallery: How Airbus plans to put passengers in the cargo hold
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 973
Great idea, it will be interesting if it gets legs, and also the cost
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Sep 2012
Total posts 234
What will happen in an emergency evacuation? Will sleeping passengers be able to exit the aircraft quickly?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Sep 2017
Total posts 163
The area would only be opened during flight cruise. Passengers will have to be in their main cabin seating otherwise.
24 Aug 2018
Total posts 2
There are no emergency evacuations at 35000ft!
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Apr 2016
Total posts 21
There will have to be oxygen (small mobile sets) available, especially if cabin depressurisation takes at 35000 feet. Enough oxy to get back to ones seat .
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Sep 2012
Total posts 234
Yea I didn't fully read the part about bunks used only when flight is in cruise. My apologies.
British Airways - Executive Club
24 Jan 2012
Total posts 74
I'm particularly interested in the economics of such a product. Thirty-two bunks would likely take up six to eight pallet bays in the cargo hold. I would suggest that six cargo pallets would be much more valuable to an airline than the potential revenue of 32 beds. Particularly if those beds canabilse revenue from the premium cabins.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Sep 2012
Total posts 234
The ME3 would be another potential client base?
British Airways - Executive Club
24 Jan 2012
Total posts 74
Both Qatar and Emirates already fly to Auckland, Cape Town and Sao Paulo and Los Angeles non stop.
05 Dec 2018
Total posts 148
These beds are more spacious than any biz seat and most first class offerings, with less privacy.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1378
Surprised on the toilet comment given Airbus has previously offered toilets downstairs.
14 Oct 2016
Total posts 105
I'm thinking this bunk idea is for slotable containers to be added on these long haul flights, which could be converted back to cargo space for flights to shorter destinations (eg: Hong Kong).
14 Oct 2016
Total posts 105
On another note, weight is probably another issue with adding this. Now if they can use various composites and keep the furnishings to a minimum, these components could easily be added. But if this system was probably over a ton, I very much doubt this will be on the aircraft as weight will be an issue for these Ultra long haul flights.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Apr 2016
Total posts 21
This area would normally be filled with cargo so weight is not a problem. The issue here is Money as cargo brings in lots of dollars. So forsaking cargo for beds means they have to be profitable.
27 Aug 2015
Total posts 26
Never gonna happen
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
Sounds like the A380 concepts of gyms, bars etc. Hard economics mean that freight pays more than PAX. Nice thought bubble but unlikely to see light of day
05 Dec 2018
Total posts 148
Haha I remember the A380 concept was in the paper years ago, with the gyms and all. Who gets the urge todo some deadlifts on the plane ?. Imagine the smell without shower access. The plane would become one big staph infection zone.
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 262
Yes freight pays more, but you have to be able to carry it. If to make the proposed distances they can’t carry freight then making money off the space through upselling to passengers makes eminent sense.
25 Oct 2017
Total posts 62
Imagine renting a bunk straight after a couple have joined the mile high club.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Nov 2017
Total posts 13
Maybe they can add a Casino into the mix too. If there was ever to be non stop flight from MEL/SYD/BNE to JFK/BOS or LHR/CDG etc, this sleeping arrangement (as it looks in the photo's) would likely cause tension between J and Y Pax and Economy Pax IF the beds were more comfortable for sleeping than First or J.
16 Nov 2018
Total posts 28
Why would you pay a Super Diamond business class seat with no feet room when you can get a full width bed like this? This looks way better than any current business class seats. If I can get 7 hour sleep between meals on a 20 hour flight, who cares about business class lighting and meals.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Apr 2018
Total posts 3
I completely agree with X and recontre ! trust me when I say that
the loss of freight revenue will make the economics of this project redundant. There's also the small matter of positioning the interchangeable units at various airports in the network and then removing them for cleaning. The logistics will never work. The concept pictures in no way illustrate the true cargo hold height limitation of a ULD being 157 cm !
12 Nov 2018
Total posts 14
Would they not be better changing business class to a more premium economy like recliner seat and offering those passengers a bunk in addition, since the J cabin is not being used for sleeping it could be modified to include a more social F/J bar, lounge or dining space. Expensive heavy, high maintenance flat beds could be eliminated.
24 Apr 2014
Total posts 271
If it was done right, this would appeal to me even more than business class on very long sectors
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 52
Reminds me of the early convict ships. For so many reasons this will never happen in the way it has been presented.
15 Mar 2016
Total posts 5
Doesn't look like a very efficient design, lots of wasted space and not much privacy. If they ever do go down this path it will most likely look a lot more like a capsule hotel, with space saving pods that are closed of for privacy
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