Innovations
Airbus launches new pivoting overhead stowage on the A320 Family
Airbus launched a new pivoting overhead stowage option for the A320 Family at this year’s APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Expo) in Anaheim, California.
Airbus is known for keeping the “Passenger at heart, Airline in mind,” a motto that definitely rings true as far as cabin design is concerned. Its concern for passenger comfort has led the company to design aircraft with a cross section that fits seats at 18” pitch, a dimension that Airbus believes should be the industry standard for seat comfort in the skies. Being passenger- and airline-minded has also resulted in the development of new lighting options called “Mood Lighting” that are set to create a relaxed atmospheres for passengers, while allowing airlines to showcase their branding with a palette made of millions of colors.
With time, passenger behaviors have evolved and so have airline requirements. With increased air travel, it is rare for airlines to have load factors below 75 percent. Airlines are also experiencing more and more pressure on their profit margins, driving them to develop innovations that can increase revenue potential. Consequently, with more airlines charging for checked baggage, it is more and more frequent to find passengers boarding aircraft with at least one carry-on bag.
Even though today’s A320 bins are the largest in the market, offering 15 percent more volume than the competition, Airbus concluded that innovation not only helps improve the A320 Family’s economics, but it could lead to important cabin improvements.
The new pivoting bins from Airbus, which will be also available for retrofit, take full advantage of the A320’s wide fuselage cross section to offer the most overhead stowage volume of any single-aisle airliner per passenger. Aesthetically, they embody a modern curved appearance which incorporates Airbus’ most up-to-date design branding - as exemplified in the cabin of the new A350 XWB.
Available as of early 2016, these new overhead bins offer 10 percent increased volume over current A320 bins, while allowing increased capacity for up to 60 percent more luggage. For example, each section now efficiently accommodates eight Travel Pro 22-enhanced* roller bags. Alternatively, the same section can also hold four Travel Pro 24s** (the largest type of carry-on roller bag).
The new bins will be introduced by Delta Air Lines in their brand new A321, the aircraft type of which the airline recently ordered 45. Airbus hopes to see more airlines taking advantage of these cabin innovations and more passengers enjoying an enhanced travel experience.
* TP22 ‘enhanced’ roller bags measure 22 x 14.5 x 9 inches – i.e. half an inch higher than ‘FAA’ standard bags.
** TP24 roller bags measure 24 x 14.5 x 11 inches
For more information contact:
Amaya Rodriguez Gonzalez
Head of Marketing Latin America & Caribbean
amaya.rodriguez-gonzalez@airbus.com
