Taking the ‘weight’ out of a plane journey

Paul Cain, Strategy Director

August 07, 2015

Flexible displays will undoubtedly change the face of the next wave of electronics (as well as the face our watches), and there are countless applications enabled by the flexibility, ruggedness or thinness of the display - that bring subtle but significant benefits to the user.

Sometimes the benefits are so clear cut and specific that it doesn't take much explaining...perfect for a blog!

Take in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems for example. The last time you were at an airport, how many passengers did you see having to re-pack their luggage before they could check in their bags? This is because weight equals cost. A big cost.

Did you know that on a typical aircraft, every extra kg of weight adds $250 to $500 to the annual fuel bill. A growing number of airlines, particularly for long haul flights, are having in-seat IFE systems installed in their aircraft. Besides from the equipment costs, there are also fuel economy considerations. Now imagine the savings that are possible by reducing system weight - replacing the glass in a typical display with plastic can easily save hundreds of dollars per seat - or many tens of thousands of dollars across a 747, for example.

Many airlines would no doubt welcome the opportunity to reduce on-board weight through plastic displays, rather than reduce customer comfort (taking less ice onto the aircraft, removing bins, making blankets thinner).

I've just mused about weight and fuel savings.. Next time you're at 38,000 feet, think of the many possibilities that a curved plastic display could offer the big, beige tube...

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