Airbus R&D created a video impression of the passenger experience on board their aircraft in 2050. Interesting ideas about passenger groups choosing to interact, be entertained or work in different parts of the cabin. Looking closely to the video it is also showing new concepts in:

• dealing with overhead luggage
• cleaning of aircraft
• entering the aircraft from a center entrance (the wings are place more to the end of the aircraft)
• a lack of a cockpit in the front of the aircraft (hey, where did the pilots go?)
• sound showers
• innovative membrane hull structure with transparent roof

See the video!

The aviation industry consensus forecast released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicates that by 2014 there will be 3.3 billion air travelers, up by 800 million from the 2.5 billion in 2009. 45% of them on Asia Pacific routes,

IATA says: “Despite some regional differences (China / India grow faster than elsewhere), the forecast indicates that the world will continue to become more mobile. This creates enormous opportunities but also presents some challenges. In five years we need to be able to handle 800 million more passengers".

Think of what this means for your airline, security, ground and baggage handling, border control, airport infrastructure, air traffic control, parking capacity, public transport capacity and impact on other involved parties.

Link to the original article at the IATA website.

For a number of government agencies I presented the traveler perspective of future border management. With many governments thinking about programs like ESTA (preregistration for visiting the US, specifically for visa-waived travelling), the number of steps in travelling increases. However, with some smart integration, and the ongoing self-serving trend in the travel industry, the travel-process might even become better. Facilitating travel and border control go hand in hand, if you approach it right.

Read more to view the slide show!

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New aviation concepts do not pop up every day, and most are not well thought through. Like this one. The product design company Seymourpowell has designed a zeppelin concept for the rich. Suitable for cross-continent travel, so they say, it will be a luxurious ride. The design is focussed to "no stress".

Cruising at 10,000 feet, the travel between LHR and JFK will take about 37 hours is the claim (I think it is dependent on the directions of the wind). Next to that, many restrictions are present to "fly" over the Atlantic Ocean. On top of that, most zeppelins are not really weather-resistant, meaning they can often not take off due to wind or other weather.

Nice design-concept, but is a zeppelin like ship the most optimal? Beautiful renderings though.