BACKGROUND

The idea of creating sleeper planes by adding tiers in a passenger cabin dates back almost to the very beginnings of commercial aviation.  Back in the 1930s, the legendary DC-3 actually began as a sleeper plane named the Douglas Sleeper Transport (DST).  Although the DST’s design worked and was welcomed with relief by weary long-haul air travelers, it was ultimately canceled because passenger capacity of aircraft decreased significantly.  While a DST could carry 14 to 16 passengers, a DC-3—the DST’s regular seating counterpart—had a standard capacity of between 21 and 28 passengers, with a maximum capacity of 32 passengers. 

Since then, creating an aircraft cabin configuration capable of maintaining costs and passenger capacity, while still providing travelers with enough room to rest and sleep comfortably, has remained an unattainable ideal—pie in the sky, if you will.  Additionally, airplane routes have increased steadily over the years, and more people can fly now than ever before; which translates to longer, more crowded flights.  Although the airline industry’s focus and the air travelers’ requirements have gradually shifted over the years from absolute cost-efficiency to more comfort and better service onboard, an integral solution that provides a lie-flat bed for every passenger on board, while not affecting the bottom line, has remained elusive.  Until now… 

INTRODUCTION

Airborne Hotel Systems is an industrial design consultancy that specializes in space-optimizing solutions capable of providing enhanced comfort, while maintaining—and even increasing—passenger capacity in aircraft. 
Our objective is to successfully merge two historically opposing aspects of air travel—cost and comfort.  This has led to the creation of the Airborne Hotel (ABH) concept, an innovative seating system for wide-body aircraft that redistributes the available cabin space, ensuring a fully-reclining seat-bed for every passenger on board.

VISION

ABH Systems aims to redefine the passenger class paradigm.  Presently, class is defined principally by the abundance or lack of individual space and, thus, comfort; our belief is that class should be defined mostly by the smaller aspects that constitute true luxury—the level of personalized attention, the abundance of amenities, the lushness of the onboard environment, and other privileges.  In other words, class should be in the details. 
 

CONCEPT OVERVIEW

The ABH concept’s functionality is based on the bi-level configuration of its seating modules, which enables the utilization of the otherwise empty overhead space in an aircraft cabin. Each module is designed to weigh roughly the same as a conventional airplane seat; this is possible
because of the modules’ honeycomb-like structure, which allows for multiple points of anchoring and fastening to the aircraft’s fuselage, thus enabling the use of lighter, yet resistant materials.

Conventional seats and overhead baggage compartments are anchored at a single, highly-reinforced—and, thus, very heavy—point.  Another essential element of the ABH design is its unique implementation of three aisles throughout the passenger cabin; this feature is vital to the design’s efficiency, and it increases corridor space by 50%.

Having taken into account the precise dimensions of an Airbus A380 cabin, the system’s designers have put together several layouts for this specific type of aircraft. A high-density, three-class ABH layout can accommodate as many as 580 passengers; a medium-density layout, 545 passengers—that’s 20more seats than the standard 525-seat configuration for a three-class arrangement in an A380 type aircraft. 

Maximum use of cabin space.

The ABH system maximizes the use of available cabin space, attaining equal or superior passenger capacity and allowing far more individual room per passenger than any conventional seating arrangement.  

To see the blueprints click here.

Three circulation aisles.

This unique feature allows for space-efficient configurations that use all the
available cabin space—from floor to ceiling—while providing direct access to every modular passenger unit (single or double) in the cabin, and increasing the aisles’ circulation capacity by 50%. 

Plus, in ABH layouts up to 70% of economy class seats are next to an aisle, compared to approximately 40% in conventional cabin configurations—an increase of up to 80% in aisle seats. 

Efficient fitting/retrofitting.

The ABH system is designed to be produced with modular construction technology; this permits carriers to transform cabins on their aircraft into ABH cabins rapidly and cost-efficiently.

Strong/lightweight construction.

ABH modular units are designed to be built using reinforced plastic composite materials, in order to create a solid, yet light and flexible structure that can be firmly attached to the aircraft's structural elements at various points. 

 
As an added benefit for passenger safety, ABH’s modular structure allows for seats to be fitted with sturdy three-point adjustable seatbelts. 

Single and double seat-bed modular units.

The ABH system has single and double seat-bed modular units; double seat-bed units are designed so that each seat-bed can be operated independently. 

Senior/handicapped passenger units.

All units located at both sides of the cabin—next to the windows—are designated as preferential accommodations for senior and handicapped persons. 

Adjustable independent seat-bed.

A foldout mechanism enables seat-beds to be adjusted manually and independently, without crew assistance being necessary.

Armrest/safety rail.

Every passenger unit is designed to be equipped with an armrest that slides along with the adjustable seat-bed's cushions to become a safety rail when seat-beds are set in the bed mode. 

Fixed integrated ladders and handgrips.

A ladder is integrated to every set of modules in order for travelersoccupying
upper-level units to be able to enter or abandon their modules safely and without crew assistance. 

Integrated personal carry-on baggage compartment.

Each passenger unit features a personal hand baggage compartment located above the passenger's legs and feet, at a safe distance from the head and upper body.  This compartment is designed to provide ample room for carry-on baggage and personal items in a closed, individual container; its structure also encloses part of the comfort, safety and entertainment equipment provided in each unit for passenger use.
 

Extra space for carry-on baggage.

Closed compartments for additional stowage space are located directly above the senior/handicapped passenger units at both sides of the cabin.