James Pero

Design

What COVID-free flying might look like

PriestmanGoode's "Pure Skies" wants to take the mortal terror out of flying in a post-coronavirus world using color and clever materials.

PriestmanGoode's "Pure Skies" flying design ideas.

Even when (or, let's be honest, if) COVID-19 is finally under control, our collective attitude about flying or sharing public spaces will likely be drastically different.

To help meet our future expectations for travel, London-based design firm, PriestmanGoode envisions an airplane cabin that's equal parts serene and safe.

Nooks and crannies where viruses can hide have been reduced to the bare minimum.

The company also dispenses with terminology referring to "classes" of travel, opting instead to use the term "rooms" for what we'd traditionally think of as business class cabins, and "zones" to refer to the aircraft's other areas.

Instead of seat pockets, stretchy cords let passengers stow their gear with minimal contact.

"Rooms" feature enclosed spaces with curtains, seam-welded fabrics, and antimicrobial surfaces.

In-flight entertainment screens allow passengers to cast media from their own devices. This minimizes the need for interacting with high-contact surfaces like touchscreens.

The regular "zone" (economy class, to you and me) includes dividing screens between each row, gapless back-of-seat shells to minimize dirt accumulation, and mounts for passenger devices so they can serve as media players rather than touchscreens.

Economy also features a staggered seat arrangement to maximize a feeling of separation

“With both passengers and airline employees at the heart of this project, we have not only taken onboard present anxieties but also tried to ensure our solutions are future-proofed against future pandemics..."

Nigel Goode, PriestmanGoode

Soothing light

UV lighting will serve as a visual indication that surfaces have been sanitized, and the blue, pink and purple hues of the ambient lighting were chosen because of their calming effects.

At least three years out

For now, we'll just have to ogle these renders and try to imagine a future where flying feels not just like something we actually want to do again, but safe.

Check out the concept and more on PriestmanGoode's website.

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