Whether due to economic pressures or new technological breakthroughs, air travel is constantly evolving with the times.
Here are four ways in which travelling by plane is changing, for better or worse:
Seat Width
If you already find air travel a tight squeeze, prepare to grumble. Some airlines, including United and Southwest in the U.S., are slimming down their chairs to make room for extra seats in a row.
Some experts suggest the reason for the squeeze is due to a larger First Class section, which now feature seats that recline into a bed and take up more space. Depending on the plane and the flight, the average seat in Economy is between 17 and 18 inches, while First class sports 21-inch seats.
Foldable wings
Some aircrafts are now designed with foldable wing tips, which helps save space in confined airfields and hangars. The wing-fold depends on the type and function of the plane, but generally the tips rise over the aircraft’s fuselage.
Among the Boeing family of planes, the 777X features foldable wings, with an in-flight wingspan of 71 metres. When on the ground and folded, its wingspan contracts to 64.8 metres.
In-flight cell phone use
Airplanes are one of the last places where people are forced to unplug their cell phones, but in the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission is starting to look at relaxing the rules.
The long-held belief that cell phones interfere with airplane navigation has been debunked, but concerns remain over etiquette – that permitting cell phone use could annoy fliers if a fellow passenger abuses the privilege by talking loudly or for a long period of time.
Airports as tourist attractions
Once the means to a destination, some airports are now becoming their own shopping and fine dining hubs.
At Singapore’s Changi International Airport, travellers can access a slew of free services including massages, Wi-Fi, and movies. For the more adventurous types: Changi is home to the world’s tallest slide.
At Vancouver International Airport, travellers can check out British Columbia’s native marine life at two satellite Vancouver Aquarium Marine exhibits – one of which features a 1,800-litre jellyfish tank.
(melissehinkle / Flickr)
