What makes a perfect aircraft cabin?

Features such as mood lighting to help passengers combat jet lag and better cabin air can help improve your flight experience

- Sarah Stanley

To most travellers, a plane is simply the space where travel unfolds. But behind every seat, overhead compartment and window lies years of planning, testing and investment.

From conceptualisation to certification, the timeline can span several years, says Mr Ingo Wug-getzer, vice-president of cabin marketing at Airbus, Europe’s largest aerospace company. “Each component — a seat, a lighting system, even the sidewall lining - goes through rigorous testing.”

Airlines and manufacturers consult stakeholders, run trial sessions and gather extensive feedback before arriving at a cabin design they are willing to put into production.

The costs are equally significant. German aviation giant Lufthansa Group, for instance, has invested €2.5 billion (S$3.78 billion) into product and service improvements since after the Covid-19 pandemic to the end of 2026.

The project includes upgrades like more spacious seats and a new in-flight entertainment system with Bluetooth connectivity to personal devices.

“Aircraft cabin design is a very complex task that contains several variables” says Mr Marco Willa, head of onboard experience at Lufthansa Group. “When it is done well, it really is a masterpiece.”

Over the past decade, two priorities have shaped cabin design more than any others: weight reduction and the use of sustainable materials, says Mr Vito Mirko Giacovelli, Cabinair Group’s commercial director.

Cabinair Group is a Britain-head-quartered collective of aviation companies that provide solutions in areas like aircraft interior design, maintenance and repair.

But there is a trade-off. “Passengers are starting to push back on this trend, especially when reduced space and comfort don’t translate to lower fares. Asa result, customers are becoming more loyal to airlines that deliver the best overall experience,’ says Mr Giacovelli.

JUGGLING PASSENGER AND AIRLINE NEEDS