Swiss Design for SWISS
(above: Be served with style aboard SWISS.)
Aircraft Interiors Need Designing, Too
While design of clothing, furniture, watches and other items of la vie quotidienne are regularly recognised for innovation and logic, scant attention is paid to the intricacies of design for interiors of transport vehicles. From municipal buses to national railways, much time, effort and investment go into the engineering and interior design to create the best possible products in motion.
(above: Fly to Switzerland in style on SWISS before enjoying Zurich Airport's VIP service on arrival.)
For SWISS International Air Lines, the impact of design goes beyond national borders. In this age of global movement, the first impression of Switzerland as a nation for many travellers takes place when they board a SWISS jet in Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong. With novel design elements and innovative thinking incorporated into its latest Business Class and First Class products, SWISS takes Swiss cleverness and knowhow to the world with the same seriousness as any furniture workshop designing a sofa or table. On an airplane, though, there are the additional considerations such as weight, volume, and flame resistance that must be taken into account. Next time flying SWISS at the front of the plane, notice the details. Everything in the cabin is designed with assiduous attention to physical comfort and ergonomic application.
(above: Space and more space on SWISS.)
SWISS is not the only Swiss company to benefit from its latest improvements; the success of the new Boeing 777 cabin interiors now serving the airline's longhaul routes can be accredited to the Swiss companies that created them. Oberwil-based textile designer Caroline Flueler designed the soft amenities such as pillows and blankets to coordinate with the hardware and colour scheme, the latter on which she collaborated with fellow canton of Zug resident Patrick Lindon, creator of the T71 furniture system sold worldwide and represented in Zurich's Museum of Design. For Lindon and his team, the demands of modern society serve as the criteria for their creations; reliability, energy efficiency, and pollution minimalisation are of primary importance, necessitating creative solutions in applying light-weight materials to produce comfortable seats and appealing interior design. The resulting award-winning 'Best Business Class' cabin has not only yielded kudos for SWISS, but lowered both the airline's fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
(above: SWISS Boeing 777 in flight.)
Credit is due another Swiss company as well. Lantal, one of the world's leading manufacturers of textiles and carpeting for use in aircraft and other public transport, is the enterprise behind the pneumatic comfort system that replaces foam with air and permits passengers to adjust their seat cushions for maximum comfort. That comfort includes a peaceful environment; beyond the seat, Lantal also developed sound-absorbing curtains to reduce noise from the galley area entering the passenger cabin.
(above: The new Boeing 777 First Class on SWISS.)
Kudos to SWISS for adopting new ideas in improving the inflight experience through the ingenuity of Swiss companies. With continued growth in Asia, where the standard of airline cabins and service rank among the highest in the world, it is good to see that SWISS understands the global nature of the competition it faces and takes action to stay in the game rather than watch its market share eroded by savvy competitors who know good design in the air is a pertinent factor for financial profitability on the ground.