Modular Sleeping Accommodations for ALL Passengers in ALL Wide-Body Aircraft

Transforming Air Travel through Smart Cabin Design

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aisles

100%

fully reclinable seats

98.4%

seats with direct access to aisle

75%

more aisle space

* based on A380 3 class 4 aisle configuration

518

seats

The Airborne Hotel (AbH) cabin concept is an unprecedented aircraft interior design aimed at generating a radically enhanced travel experience for all passengers, as well as a more dynamic and profitable business model for airlines, through an integral optimization of the available cabin space; it can be applied to all wide-body commercial aircraft (A380, B747, B777, A350 and B787).

AbH enables every passenger to enjoy far more personal space, comfort, independence, privacy, wellness and safety; all this by means of a bi-level modular design that features three and four-aisle configurations with convertible seats that can recline fully flat for proper rest.

Airlines can benefit from significantly higher seat count, increased travel demand, new and broadened market segments, faster turnaround times, and something that is priceless for any industry—far higher customer satisfaction ratings.

concept features

Convertible lie-flat sleeping accommodations must become a standard for long-haul air travel, regardless of cabin class. The AbH system can achieve this, offering all passengers fully flat horizontal or angled convertible seats.

Fully lie-flat convertible seats in all cabin classes

More personal space, privacy and independence

Options for passengers with special needs

AbH modular units provide unalterable personal space, and a lot more of it—no more cramped seats; no more disputes about reclining seats.

Because of its modular design and additional aisles in the cabin, SleepAir allows far more independence and privacy for every passenger.

With AbH, airlines can designate seating accommodations for passengers with special dimensions (height, width); mobility impairments or disabilities; and those traveling with babies, small children, pets or service animals.

Minimizing the risk of contagion

Forget worrying about someone sneezing next to you. Due to its modular design, AbH provides a far safer and healthier personal environment for each passenger, protecting from airborne pathogens without relying on spatial distancing, so that airlines can maintain passenger numbers—even during a health contingency—and more people can travel safely.

Optimized air filtration

AbH modular units enable sectorized air filtration connected to the central HEPA filters, ensuring independent air flow in each module, so that every passenger travels in their personal airspace.

Ideally, air vents in the front of each unit can extract potentially contaminated air, as fresh air is simultaneously replenished by vents in the back side of the unit.

Three and four-aisle options

AbH offers configurations with three and four-aisle options; the latter being available exclusively for the A380, B747 and B777.With the four-aisle option, up to 100% of passengers can travel in single-occupancy modular units, with direct aisle access.

Strong and lightweight monocoque structure

Personal stowage compartment for each passenger

The design is based on seats being integrated into strong and lightweight modules that are fastened to multiple points of the fuselage and distributed in a bi-level arrangement; the modular units' monocoque structure helps make each unit sturdy yet flexible and protect passengers in the event of a survivable crash landing.

All passengers can stow their standard carry-on luggage inside each module's personal stowage compartment, which also has the monitor/IFE console.

Health monitoring and sealing off units

AbH modules can include real-time temperature and pulse sensors, to alert cabin crew if any passenger develops symptoms of COVID or other illness during flight; in such a scenario, modular units with any potentially ill passengers can be independently sealed off by flight crew, in order to prevent further contagion throughout the cabin.

More aisles in the cabin

Adding aisles in the cabin—an unique SleepAir feature—makes it possible for each single or double-occupancy passenger unit to have direct aisle access; more aisles can also streamline boarding and deboarding, contributing to faster turnaround and evacuation times.The extra aisle options also provide more space for social distancing when boarding and deboarding during a health contingency.

Single and double-occupancy modular units

AbH three-aisle configurations feature single and double-occupancy units, with the first comprising roughly 40-45% of seats and the latter 55-60%; this means 70% of passengers will be seated directly next to an aisle. For the remaining 30% occupying the inner seat in double-occupancy units, entering or exiting their unit is simple, since the passenger that is next to the aisle will not need to step into the aisle to let them pass; merely needing to be in a seated position with legs pulled up.

No more lifting carry-on baggage over your head to stow it or competing with other passengers for stowage space. With AbH, all passengers stow their carry-on baggage inside their module's personal stowage compartment—located directly in front of the passenger seat—without obstructing the aisle when doing it, and since the floor of upper-tier units is at a height of about 1.30 m (4'3), even passengers occupying upper-tier units will not have to lift their baggage over their heads.

Personal stowage compartment for each passenger

A healthier way to travel

Because AbH offers passengers the freedom to move and stretch during a long flight, potential health complications—such as circulatory problems that may arise from extended periods of reduced mobility—can be prevented.

Options for passengers with special needs

These accommodations include all lower-tier modular units, as well as single-occupancy window units; the latter featuring extra lateral space—due to the curvature of the fuselage—that can be used to place a crib, pet transporter or mobility device.

A new business model

With AbH, people who already travel long haul will be motivated to travel further and more frequently, while consumer sectors that normally avoid long-haul air travel due to factors such as mobility impairments, disabilities, or traveling with babies/children or service animals/pets will find it much more appealing.Also, in a post-COVID world, AbH can help restore public confidence in air travel safety, safeguarding passengers and airlines in the event of a global health contingency—from both the health and economic impact.

More Aisles

Over the years, there have been many concept proposals incorporating levels to the passenger cabin in order to attain more personal space for passengers while not affecting seat count; what sets the AbH concept apart and makes it a truly viable option is a counterintuitive notion—adding aisles to the cabin. This unique AbH feature is what enables a practical design that can be applied under real-world conditions. The following cross sections are based on the A380.

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