LOOKING out of the window on a plane is one of the best things about flying — especially if you’ve got epic views over mountain ranges or cities like London, New York or Sydney.

But The Sun reports, this might be set to change, as Emirates announce plans to build planes with virtual windows.

This means that when you look outside you can only see a projection instead of the real thing.

Emirates have unveiled designs for a new first class suite, which feature fibre optic cameras that beam an image of outside onto the wall.

MORE: Airlines scrap economy seats

MORE: Why flights are about to get more expensive

MORE: Authorities ‘reluctant’ to issue airline terror warnings

President of Emirates Sir Tim Clark told the BBC: “The quality of the imagery is so good, it’s better than with the natural eye. [It’s] as if you were in the window seat.

“So can the new generation of aircraft be windowless with this technology? In my view there’s no reason why not.”

He continued: “The aircraft are lighter, the aircraft could fly faster, they’ll burn far less fuel and fly higher.”

Another benefit, according to Sir Tim, is that planes will be safer if the designs come into use.

Getting rid of windows would make planes more solid, getting rid of “structural weaknesses”.

Windowless planes would also reduce costs for airlines and consumers due to the reduced fuel consumption. Planes would also reduce their carbon dioxide output.

MORE: Concerns over Boeing’s pilotless plane trial

The planes would also offer wider seating for travellers and cutting edge entertainment offerings and in-flight services

In April a woman died after she was partially sucked out of a shattered Southwest Airlines aeroplane window after an engine blew up due to “catastrophic failure”.

Jennifer Riordan was killed in April when an engine exploded, damaging a window next to her. Passengers scrambled to save the woman from getting sucked out the window that had been smashed by debris. She later died, and seven others were injured. The pilots of the twin-engine Boeing 737 bound from New York to Dallas with 149 people aboard put the aircraft into a dive in order to provide breathable air for passengers before making an emergency landing in Philadelphia.

This article first appeared in The Sun and is republished here with permission.