The Airspace passenger experience programme, which Airbus started with the A333neo programme, and has since spread through the airframers line-up – is to further expand, with the Airbus A220 to gain the cabin experience.
The move comes from market demand that Airbus has noticed.
The key new feature of this cabin enhancement is the Airspace XL Bin – provided by Diehl Aviation – which offers many advantages, including increased capacity and lighter weight.
With Spacebin XLs, passengers stow their bags sideways to ensure the maximum possible use of the space is made, as the bins are deep enough to take a carry-on case.
To complement these new A220 bins, Airbus has also taken the opportunity to integrate a redesigned and improved passenger service unit (PSU) – provided by Astronics – and an enhanced ceiling to convey even more the Airspace design language.
An optional third LED light is also offered, located under the new bins and which contributes significantly to the atmosphere of the cabin.
Availability
The new A220 Airspace XL Bins will become available from 2025, along with the Airspace upgrade. This will be retrofittable, offer an increased capacity of around 19 more passenger bags (on the A220-300), as well as accommodate longer and heavier payload items thanks to its four-frame design.
It offers operation benefits too, with increased reliability and reduced maintenance burden due to the simplified movable mechanisms. The larger bins help ease the boarding experience while making the crew’s effort in getting a cabin ready for take-off much easier.
There’s also an environmental angle too – the new overhead bins will result in a 300lb loss in the weight of the cabin structure. The upshot is that this will directly improve the airline’s operational efficiency and revenue generation, whilst being able to claim they burn less fuel per trip.
In Quotes
Paul Edwards, Head of Advanced Cabin Design at Airbus says:
“The A220’s cabin already offers a superior passenger experience and shares with Airspace the same DNA elements based on ambience, comfort, service and design.” He adds: “Through the introduction of the A220 XL Bins, we have further improved this harmonisation by integrating the Airspace design language and bringing us one step closer to the elevated passenger experience that our A350, A330neo and A320neo customers are already accustomed to.”
Going on the demonstrator in detail
Economy Class and Beyond spent some extra time on the A220 demonstrator at the Airbus stand at Aircraft Interiors Expo. The first thing you can see is the slightly asymmetrical cabin with the new overhead bins installed
The overhead bins are indeed larger – and thanks to sideways storage, you can squeeze a lot more bags in.
The new passenger service units were installed – as you can see, they’re nice and bright, as well as accessible from the seat above you.
The seating on show in the demonstrator is a mixture of supplied fitted furnishing (in this case, seating by Safran Seating) as well as Buyer Furnished Equipment by Collins Aerospace.
Important Changes in the Cabin
The Airspace by Airbus concept has been an important step in the Airbus programme to improve the passenger experience aboard an aircraft – with a consistent design language to aid in that.
Much like the Boeing Sky Interior, it allows airlines to work from a defined template and bring their own touches to it – allowing for more than the “LED lights and seats” experience, with the cabin being driven forward by connectivity.
And demands from airlines to have a consistent design language, along with a consistent cabin experience make sense – there’s nothing quite so disconcerting when you change from one aeroplane to another to have completely different cabin experiences.
It has taken some time for Airspace to come to the A220 programme – as you will know, the A220 programme originated from Bombardier’s C Series programme, which Airbus progressively brought out.
Seeing it with Airspace is another sign that the A220 has truly found a home with Airbus.
Economy Class and Beyond was a media guest of Airbus at Aircraft Interiors Expo.
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I know airlines want to add as many seats as possible to maximise profit and they don’t always have young kids onboard. It would be nice to have a small play area for kids. This way kids have a play pen/area to hang out and passengers may get a break from screaming children. Maybe it’s a space that can be used by adults when children are not using it (like the exercise space Qantas has)??