Accessibility is, and should be, a priority when it comes to creating inclusive aircraft cabin spaces. Adaptable design now plays a direct role in shaping customer trust, especially in business-class cabins, where the expectation for comfort is at its highest.
As we saw at Aircraft Interiors Expo this year, there is a clear shift in priorities, which is making accessibility a key factor influencing both airlines’ seating options and passengers’ choice of airline. For passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs), whether they are travelling for work, to meet family, or for a holiday, the ability to enjoy premium services matters. In fact, one in ten people with a disability do not fly due to fear of bodily harm, damage to their wheelchair, or aircraft inaccessibility.
The aircraft seat manufacturing industry has a clear responsibility to deliver solutions that work for all airline passengers.
Challenges in business-class seat design
Designing accessible business-class seating presents a unique set of challenges, as the certification rules are strict and there are increasing volumes of requests for privacy features to be built into each suite.
In December 2024 the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final rule to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) to address the serious problems that users of disability wheelchairs and scooters face when travelling by air, particularly in terms of safety and dignity. Stipulations of the final rule include improving performance standards for twin-aisle aircraft to be consistent with single-aisle in terms of the use of onboard wheelchairs, and ensuring that 50% of aisle-side aircraft seats are accessible by PRMs.
Unlike many of the precise aviation certification requirements that seat manufacturers have to comply with, the requirements for accessibility are less definitive, sometimes only requiring demonstration that the passenger can access the suite ‘with dignity’. While this term offers little guidance, it sets a high standard for what a premium travel experience should offer every passenger.
Changing conversations across the industry
In recent years, conversations around the topic of accessibility have grown louder and become more focused. The popularity of doors to create fully enclosed suites in business class, partly driven by changing passenger expectations after the pandemic, has placed new emphasis on how PRMs interact with these environments.
The idea that accessibility limits creativity is outdated. In fact, it often pushes companies to find smarter ways to use space, design more intuitive layouts, and engineer products that work better for everyone. When designers prioritise accessibility, they often discover benefits that improve the passenger experience for all travellers, not just those with disabilities.
Aircraft Interiors Expo echoed this shift. Accessibility was widely discussed on the show floor. Designers, airlines, and accessibility advocates are now working together more closely to understand passenger needs and identify new solutions. This collaborative momentum signals that accessibility has become central to how the industry defines innovation.
Creating cabins of calm
Improving accessibility starts with a user-first approach. Transferring from an onboard wheelchair to a business-class seat when boarding and disembarking an aircraft can make the travel experience difficult for PRMs. Structural changes need to be made to make it easier for the passenger to move past barriers, while also preserving the luxury and privacy of all travellers on board.
Cabin designers have been focusing on creating wider and more flexible entryways to solve this issue, with structures that move out of the way during boarding, and clear and simple routes for getting into the seat. These design decisions require a careful balance between the desire for privacy and the need for an open, navigable space, considering aesthetics, comfort and inclusivity. For example, some seats include movable armrests or sliding components that improve access.
Integrating accessibility into business-class seating
The pursuit of elegant simplicity in design guides every aspect of seat development at Unum, especially when it comes to accessibility.
With many airlines requesting doors for their business-class suites, the entry and exit procedure for wheelchair users is a key focus area, and one of the drivers behind Unum’s pivoting door mechanism. With a simple latch release, both the door and the aisle-side structure swing away from the suite, dramatically widening the entryway and easing transfers from a wheelchair into the seat.
The pivoting mechanism also allows for on-wing replacement of the door in under three minutes, which helps airlines keep maintenance time to a minimum without compromising the accessibility experience.
This isn’t just a concept. Wheelchair users tested the design at the last two Aircraft Interiors Expos, successfully transferring into a Unum One seat with ease. Their feedback confirmed that this design strategy makes a real difference. Unum also include braille wayfinding in the seats, recognising that accessibility must address a range of passenger needs beyond mobility. These small additions contribute to a more dignified and independent travel experience for all.
The future of accessible premium travel
Accessibility in seating design doesn’t mean sacrificing elegance or performance. It means building seats that welcome all passengers – prioritising comfort and privacy while ensuring that every passenger, regardless of ability, can use the space with ease and dignity.
This is not about making compromises, but about creating smarter, more considered designs that serve a wider range of needs. With thoughtful engineering and collaboration across the industry, business-class travel can become more inclusive, more dignified, and better for everyone.
