Proposal of an Accessible Cabin Concept on Regional Aviation for Passengers with Disabilities

Abstract

Despite a global increase in the number of passengers with disabilities on regional aviation, most aircraft cabins are still not adequately equipped to provide sufficient comfort to this public, making the travel experience much less attractive. In order to investigate how airlines and aircraft manufacturers could improve the cabin’s accessibility, this study aims to investigate solutions and systems available in the market to propose an accessible cabin concept for regional aviation. This research is part 2 of a two-part series that aims to apply a methodology inspired by Design Thinking Tools such as persona mapping to suggest improvements for the experience of passengers with disabilities. To this end, potential systems were evaluated and a cabin concept was proposed. It was noted that for passengers with sensory impairments, it is possible to improve their experience without major cabin modifications. However, research on their needs is limited and there are few solutions on the market targeting this audience. Conversely, passengers with mobility restrictions pose more complex challenges. Finally, the proposed accessible cabin concept demonstrates the potential to enhance the flight experience for passengers with special needs, potentially increasing their market share and overall satisfaction.