Aviation designers who overhauled the last British Airways Concord cabin are creating anti-coronavirus partitions to help keep economy passengers socially distanced.
It comes after criticism that some airlines still operating were failing to ensure social distancing for infection control and were still cramming in passengers onboard.
The lightweight modules would physically separate people sitting in the aisle and window seats, being secured using the plane’s seat belt buckles and two armrests.
The partitions, called the Isolate Screen Kit, have been blueprinted by Hammersmith & Fuham-based firm Factorydesign with the aim of being quick to build following physical prototyping.
They would be made from an acrylic-type material in either a clear or opaque finish with a window, be about as high as the seat back and include a space odds-and-ends trays or cupholders.
The partitions have been designed for easy removal so passengers from the same group could sit together but strangers could be isolated.
Each unit would weigh about 5kg and is meant for easy disinfecting.
They offer the added bonus of quelling passive-aggressive encroachments in the fight for the armrest.
The firm also designed Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class “Loft” sky lounge in its A350 aircraft and upgraded the last cabin for the British Airways supersonic Concord, including lightweight seats modelled on luxury fixtures in Aston Martin cars.
Adam White, director of Factorydesign, said the concept had yet to be tested but the firm was negotiating with “a number of people” interested in discussing manufacture using techniques such as 3D printing.
He said: “We wanted something that could be done in two months and installed in minutes.
“It essentially can be held in by a lap strap, like a booster seat in the car for the kids.
“We wanted something that provides a genuine barrier and helps the airline to space people out, but also importantly when a passengers gets on and sees this before they fly, they’ll get some kind of reassurance.
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“Everyone is hyper-sensitised to being too close, and there’s a significant psychological issue to overcome, which we believe our Isolate concept addresses.”
It comes after Heathrow Airport chief executive John Holland-Kaye warned earlier this month of the challenges keeping customer far enough apart.
He said: “It’s just physically impossible to socially distance with any volume of passengers in an airport.”
Mr Holland-Kaye suggested measures that could include temperature screening, face masks being worn and “less contact between passengers and airport workers”.
EasyJet has suggested the airline could leave its aircraft middle seats empty when flights eventually resume, a move opposed by budget carrier rival Ryanair.
