Swiss Air Luxury

Imagine you are seated in economy class on an ultra-long-haul flight. When you are free to roam, where do you go? Your options are limited. You can walk up and down the aisle or go to the lavatory. But if airlines offered the type of luxuries now seen in some premium cabins, such as a stocked bar, these passengers would “spend more on that flight, I’m sure”, says Ceri Rocca, one of the UK’s foremost designers for transport interiors.

Other carriers are making their mark. “Travel agents say they are hearing roars of applause for the new seat in the international economy-class cabin of the A380 operated by Qantas, the third launch customer,” says author and consultant Jennifer Coutts Clay.

Coutts Clay also sees an emphasis on “green” aviation, including the use of water filters and sustainable products such as wool and other natural fibres; the use of lighter accessories such as oxygen containers, galley carts, crockery and cutlery; development of hi-tech waste-management programmes to handle in-flight products; smarter on-board baggage stowage options; and new-style lighting techniques that can provide the impression of on-demand full-cabin interior decor changes at the flick of a switch.