Abstract

As demand for long-distance air travel with pets surges, airlines must adapt by enhancing accommodations for safe, comfortable, and sustainable pet transport over extended periods. This paper presents a proposed, innovative, comprehensive approach to redesigning airplane cabin and cargo spaces to create a more pet-friendly, eco-conscious experience for travelers on long-haul flights with animal companions. A key innovation needed for pets accompanying owners in the cabin on lengthy journeys is seamlessly integrating lightweight, modular pet carriers into passenger seating units. These redesigned carriers prioritize ventilation, comfort, and easy access to food/water during extended travel. They eliminate cumbersome separate pet carriers while increasing space and convenience. Larger pets traveling in cargo hold benefits from redesigned compartments focused on maintaining optimal environmental conditions throughout long flights. Improved temperature/humidity control, low-vibration insulation, and automated monitoring/delivery systems ensure ongoing comfort and safety. Modular, stackable units maximize cargo space while providing ample individual room per animal. Throughout all design aspects, a cornerstone principle is prioritizing environmental sustainability. Renewable, low-impact materials are used for carrier construction, while modular components enable long-lasting use and easy maintenance or replacement of individual elements. Life cycle assessments guide material selections and manufacturing processes to minimize the carbon footprint of pet travel accommodations. This new concept for pet carriers takes a holistic approach to addressing the unique challenges of long-distance pet air travel, considering the needs of owners, pets, airlines, and the environment. Design focused on extended journey requirements, seamless integration into existing systems, and eco-conscious practices elevate the entire long-haul experience for all passengers—both human and animal alike.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Airplanes--Seats--Design; Airplane occupants--Services for; Pets--Transportation

Publication Date

5-7-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Industrial Design (MFA)

Department, Program, or Center

Design, School of

College

College of Art and Design

Advisor

Stan Rickel

Advisor/Committee Member

Lorraine Justice

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

IDDE-MFA

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