I've always thought it'd be neat to have bunks in Economy Class — sort of like a capsule hotel. You'd have beds stacked on the sides and in the middle of the cabin, allowing for some open "common areas", where passengers could mingle, stretch their legs and eat standing up.
Imagine it: a lie-flat bed in Economy. That's aviation nirvana (a point partly reached by Air New Zealand's excellent Skycouch).
Airbus are onboard. They want to put bunks, creches and common areas in the cargo hold, using modules that will be interchangeable with cargo containers. It's a nice idea — but what about the cargo? If the airline is carrying less cargo, passengers are paying more for their seats.
Prediction: If the idea proves sound, the airlines will find a way to shoehorn more Economy seats into the hold.
