An airport chair or airport seating is seating within an airport. Airport terminals designed by major architects such as Renzo Piano or Richard Rogers require high quality seating to match the general quality of their interiors. Fire safety is a significant consideration at airports. Regulations now govern the contents of airport terminals and this affects the choice of materials used for the seating. Werner Sobek designed the airport chair Expression using only aluminium in a simple form. Recent firms and designers involved in the highly lucrative and competitive business include Porsche, Vitra, Sir Norman Foster, and Alberto Meda. Business travellers commonly wish to use laptop computers while waiting and so seating for them may incorporate a charging point and a form of desk. Robert Sommer studied the design of airport seating and concluded that the arrangement of chairs in rigid lines bolted to the floor was deliberately sociofugal — discouraging social interaction such as conversation and encouraging the sitters to go to commercial locations such as shops and cafes. The provision of arms on the chairs increased the usage of the chairs, as compared with bench seats without arms. Strangers are more comfortable sitting adjacent each other if there is an arm to mark their personal space. The parallel orientation of the modular seat units also minimises face-to-face contact and this is less threatening for strangers.
Seating in airports plays a significant role in the satisfaction of travelling passengers as well as their overall experience in airports. Seating is an important aspect of airports due because it provides both a pleasant airport experience and visual appeal.
Purpose of seating styles
The design of the standard airport seating has not seen a significant change in over 50 years, and is fact known for its simplicity. The primary focus of today’s airport seating goes to the size and comfort of seating to fit the environment that the airport and airline caters to. Airport lounges provide greater comfort and services in a place separate from the standard airport environment to travelers with a membership. While standard domestic and international airport lounges include basic seating and access to charging stations, these membership-based lounges provides more comfortable and spacious seating. Primary features of airport lounges include refreshments and bars, entertainment, relaxation, and unique seating styles.
Types of seating
provides airline travelers with a premium seating range of seating material in various colors of blue, red, black and grey. Dubai International Airport is an example of an airport that is focused on setting apart standards of original airport seating and experimenting with various colors to enhance appearance and comfort. Priority Pass is a membership-based lounge access service that caters to airports around the world including Africa, Asia, Continental Europe, Latin America and The Caribbean, Middle East, North America and UK and England. With 25 years of service, Priority Pass provides passengers with elegant seating styles, far from ordinary. The first sleeping pod was introduced in 2013 to Helsinki Airport in Finland. The sleeping pod allowed airline travelers to relax in their own peaceful space. The pod features adjustment to be turned from a seat to a bed, storage area for carry-on luggage, as well as charging connectivity. Dubai International Airport also features sleeping pods that fulfils a similar purpose at their Sleep ‘n Fly Lounge.
Comfortability trends
The environment of airport waiting areas is continuously updated, and revamped. The purpose has been, to enhance the experience of the traveler. Due to the reinforcement of airport security, the wait time of a passenger has significantly increased. To accommodate customer experience, airports have applied major efforts in . The space surrounding the seating area within an airport is designed to encourage comfort, happiness and connectedness within travelers. The level of comfort within travelers has been dependent on a number of elements, which affect the surrounding environment. The six airport servicescape factors are:
Design
Scent
Functional organization
Air/lighting conditions
Seating
Cleanliness
In a study regarding the importance of these factors, it was found that there is a positive correlation between the comfort of the traveler and the scent of the waiting area. A higher level of comfort has encouraged the desire to fly through a specific airline more than once.
Modern technologies
New styles of seating have been developed to accommodate new technologies. The is designed to allow travelers to use multiple electrical devices while remaining seated in their chair. provides privacy and comfort for sleeping in a public area at the Abu Dhabi International Airport allow travelers to sleep during long layovers. The pods include a cover for security and privacy and power outlets for charging electronic devices.
