The title of this splendid e-book, written by Jennifer Coutts Clay, doesn’t quite cover the load, because the content contains much more than just information about the decoration of the modern jetliners. This book describes the development of the airplane interior since the introduction of the first generation commercial jetliners. Not only the upholstery of chairs and the carpet for the aisle, but also all additional things as head covers, composition of the luggage lockers, necessities for the catering, the decoration of toilets and lounges, lightening and all additional things that need to give the passenger a lasting positive impression, are listed.
Before these things can be ordered at the introduction of a new type of plane, a long route of testing and development goes beforehand. A lot of things need to be 
taken into account. What to think of, for example, the fire safety, fire retardant working and toxic qualities. But also wear, maintenance, durability, colour stability, and especially weight plays an important role in the final decision. Next to that other things also play along, like composition and colour of the cabin, chairs, luggage lockers, toilets, lightening, catering, entertainment and so on. With all of this, the approval by the FAA needs to be considered, who sets high demands for the quality and also the final certification.
That the right choices of these things are very important, is shown in the following example: A jetliner with a high loading factor transports around 10.000 passengers a week, which means 10.000 times boarding and 10.000 exiting. Further, meals are served, drinks brought around, duty free articles are sold and the toilet is used. This means that around 50.000 times a week the carpet is walked up and down. Then you’ll understand that the carpet in terms of durability needs to meet very high demands. After a couple of years the interior needs to be upgraded or totally renewed. This alone asks often, already at the larger airliners, for an investment of hundreds of millions. A recent upgrade of the business class on the international route at Quantas, cost, for example, $ 300 million dollar.
Furthermore this book sets also out the design of the business and first class and the brand new innovation at the different airliners. What to think of the shower cabins in the newest wide bodies and also the beautiful first class lounges with the possibilities for a massage and manicure. Nothing is too much to spoil the business traveller. All of this is framed with additional comments from designers and specialist and completed with marvellous illustrations and a lot of photo material.
An important chapter is given to colour, which also differ per airliner. What is normal with European airliners, is absolute not done at Eastern airliners, because the colours have a whole different meaning there. Also durability is addressed. Airliners do everything to get the green logo stuck on, also to improve their image with the passengers and especially to minimize the costs; weight saving programs with respect to fuel, use of recyclable material at the catering and led lightening.
For example: because of the use of light weight trollies with the catering, per year 100.000,- on fuel is saved on a 747, and 290 tons less carbon emission is used. We are at the point now that around 80% of the airplane can be recycled. South West Airlines, a successful low cost carrier from the United States, even has a Boeing 737 reserved, which is only used for the testing of new environment friendly products!
Also for the future of aviation all these things are very important. The expectation is that in 20 years there will be 6 milliard air travellers (now 3 milliard) and thus that the air fleet also will be doubled. Around the whole world approximately 57 million people work in the aviation industry. Dazzling numbers. All of this and a lot more information are described in this well accessible and beautiful realised book.
This e-book app is great for everyone interesting in aviation, but also especially for people who are working in aviation, like designers, caterers, manufactures and
particularly suppliers of the described products. The book is of a high professional level and although I, myself, am a cockpit freak, have read it with a lot of pleasure and interest. It gives you a lot of insight in what happens at the design and the manufacturing of the present and future jetliner cabin. The book is also available in hardcopy, which will be absolutely worth the try, with all those fantastic photos.
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