Airbus has revealed a radical design for future airplane cabins – swappable interiors that can be customized to fit the needs of each flight.

Called Transpose, the concept separates an airplane's cylindrical body into sections, allowing each one to host a different layout.

The French firm envisions gyms, coffee shops, playgrounds and more first class seats switching in and out of planes 'within a few years'.

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Airbus has revealed a radical design for future airplane cabins – modules (pictured) that can be customized to fit the needs of each flight

SWAPPABLE CABINS Airbus has revealed a radical design that lets airlines customize the inside of the plane cabins to fit the need of each flight. Called Transpose, this concept separates the interior into individuals modules that can host different layouts. When the plan reaches its final destination, staff can easily unload the separated modular and customize them for the needs of the next flight. The firm envisions gyms, spas, playgrounds, coffee shops, more first class seating and more in the modules. Airbus would use already existing cargo planes for this project. Advertisement

'To create new passenger experience possibilities, we must first work to simplify the process of customizing aircraft cabins,' Jason Chua, project executive at Airbus, shared in a blog post.

'We're doing this with the development of a modular aircraft cabin, and by giving the ecosystem of airlines, manufacturers, passengers and regulators the tools to rapidly bring more diverse experiences to market.'

Airlines usually change their cabins every seven to 10 years due to the time consuming and rigorous process.

Even when the interior is updated, it is mostly conservative and incremental improvements.

However, Chua reveals that the firm is taking an 'ecosystem' approach with their design, which could make Transpose both 'achievable and pragmatic'.

'First and foremost, we believe that this project will enable entirely new categories of passenger experiences, making your time spent in the sky more interesting, personalized, and enjoyable,' he writes.

'Additionally, we’re taking an ecosystem approach to this challenge, drawing upon expertise and leveraging best practices from multiple industries.'

And if Airbus is successful in this venture, Chua said it will 'reduce the time it takes to customize an aircraft cabin by a factor of three, and take the speed of aircraft reconfiguration from weeks to hours, or even minutes'.

Called Transpose, the new concept separates an airplane's cylindrical body into sections that can be transformed into different layouts (pictured). This could reduce the time it takes to customize an aircraft cabin by a factor of three

When the plane reaches its final destination, staff can easily unload the separated modular interior and customize each section for the needs of the next flight.

'Imagine an afternoon flight landing at San Jose airport,' Chua explains.

'The passengers deplane, and within minutes the seats in the cabin are being swapped out for bunks, making the aircraft's next route: a 12 hour redeye to Singapore — a much more restful experience for passengers.'

When the plane reaches its final destination, staff can easily unload the separated modular interior and customize each section for the needs of the next flight

The idea is that there will not be a first class, business class or coach sections - it would be an open floor plan where each section houses a different experience for passengers. And the firm would use already existing freighter variants of large commercial aircraft

'That same plane could then be used for a short flight to Macau — in which the airline could swap out a sleeper cabin for a spa chain, ready to service vacationers eager to start their travels refreshed.'

The idea is that there will not be a first class, business class or coach sections - it would be an open floor plan where each section houses a different experience for passengers.

Turning this concept into a reality wouldn't require Airbus to design an entirely new craft.

The firm would use already existing freighter variants of large commercial aircraft, as the cabins are already empty, which would easily let the firm fill it with the swappable sections.

Besides offering passengers a more comfortable and enjoyable experience, Transpose would also save money for airlines.

Besides offering passengers a more comfortable and enjoyable experience, Transpose would also save money for airlines. Adopting a modular cabin architecture would eliminate aircraft downtime due to customization operations – a process that takes up to a month to complete

Transpose also allows manufactures to finish and delivery planes much faster than ever before. Airlines could customize their own modules with any experience they'd like for passengers - this could include more seating and beds

Adopting a modular cabin architecture would eliminate aircraft downtime due to customization operations – a process that takes up to a month to complete.

Transpose would also allow manufactures to finish and delivery planes much faster than ever before.

PATENT HIGHLIGHTS TRANSPOSE In 2015, Airbus was awarded a patent for detachable cabins that could cut down the amount of times it takes to board a plane. To reduce a plane's turnaround time, Airbus suggests 'a removable cabin module, comprising a floor, an upper aircraft fuselage portion connected to the floor, and a first and a second end wall. Airbus was awarded a patent (pictured) in 2015 for 'detachable cabins', which suggests the firm has been working on Transpose for quite some time ‘The first and second end walls, the floor and the upper aircraft fuselage portion form a cabin for transport of passengers, luggage, freight or combinations thereof.' It suggests that passengers could be seated in the detachable cabins while they are still docked at a gate. The entire cabin can then be lowered and attached to the plane. When passengers land, their cabin is removed and immediately replaced with another, fully loaded cabin. Airbus says the 'aircraft pod concept' means 'passengers could be pre-seated in cabin pods before the plane actually arrives, ready for integration on the aircraft, saving time and making processing much simpler.' Advertisement

'Currently, work on cabin interiors can't begin until the final weeks of the manufacturing process, but modular cabin interiors could be developed on a parallel timetable with the core fabrication of the aircraft itself,' Chua writes.