Lufthansa Technik has previewed a new cabin design study for long haul aircraft at the Monaco Yacht Show. The design, called Explorer, is based on the current trend for superyachts of the same name which aim to fulfil the owners wishes to “go anywhere at any time.”

Lufthansa Technik chose the Airbus Corporate Jet ACJ330 as the platform to base its design. As a widebody aircraft, it offers sufficient space for a large number of cabin ideas. Only a few ACJ330 cabin concepts had been presented to the market previously.

Wieland Timm, head of sales VIP and special mission aircraft services at Lufthansa Technik, says: “Lufthansa Technik regularly develops new VIP aircraft cabin concepts that both meet the latest market requirements and represent the latest trends. With this red-hot study we continue this tradition in an innovative way. We are developing the 'Explorer Design' for a completely new target group.”

One idea is a projection system that covers large areas of the ceiling and sides of the cabin that can generate a new design on the walls and ceiling, for example an underwater world. The current design is for around 10-16 passengers.

Jan Grube, sales director in Lufthansa Technik's VIP and special mission aircraft services division, who accompanied the development of the new study, adds: “Over the last few months we have intensively analysed the visual context and the typical elements of the Explorer boat class in order to transfer the design idea behind it from the water to the air and thus into a new cabin design.”

The cabin concept is still being finalised, and Lufthansa Technik aims present the complete study at the Dubai Air Show in November 2021.