Aircraft interior lighting is a fast-growing sector and has become part of providing an enhanced customer experience. It no longer provides just basic safety functions and is now used to improve the moods and comfort of passengers.

Research from Allied Market found that the aircraft cabin lighting market was valued at $1,167.50 million in 2018 and is projected to grow by 5.2% CAGR to $1,740 million by 2026. They believe much of the growth will come from China & India as well as retrofitting cabins with LED lights to increase sustainability.

Today’s aircraft lighting systems are recognised for their impact on the onboard experience, from helping passengers navigate the cabin, reducing jetlag and enhancing safety, to enabling airlines to create an atmosphere in line with their branding and colour scheme. This was spearheaded by Airbus, who was the first manufacturer to introduce ambient lighting as a factory fit option on its commercial aircraft, with more than 16 million colours to choose from.

Guiding passengers to safety

An ability to navigate the aircraft cabin safely is a necessity for both crew and passengers. STG Aerospace, understands the many components to cabin lighting. In an article, CEO Nigel Duncan stated: “Even during daylight flying, natural light is having to work with (or against) the cabin’s ceiling lights, its sidewall lights, its emergency signage and reading lights, its galley lights, its photoluminescent floor path lighting and more.”

STG Aerospace’s photoluminescent floor path marking system, saf-Tglo® is currently used by 300 global airlines on more than 11,000 aircraft. The system has a primary role to direct and alert passengers to emergency exits onboard. Using LEDs, means no electrical power source is needed, making saf-Tglo® 100% reliable. The system simultaneously stores and emits light, providing a highly visible emergency exit path after just a short charging period during normal cabin lighting.

Setting the mood

The rapid rate of development and innovation in the lighting sector is leading to a new generation of LED lighting to be released every two or three years, according to Runway Girl Network. The airlines now recognise its ability to enhance the passenger experience, by creating and adapting cabin ambience throughout the flight.

Among the pioneers of LED mood lighting, Boeing’s Sky Interior cabin has demonstrated the dramatic use of lights onboard. It allows airlines to emulate sunrise and sunset for improved passenger comfort and ambience. Many smaller regional airlines have since followed suit, recognising an affordable opportunity to improve aesthetics and the experience onboard.

Burrana also has an adjustable and reliable LED Lighting solution that is both flexible and affordable. With full control from the crew terminal, the system enables airlines to create a unique travel experience for passengers by choosing from a number of preset lighting profiles, developed from more than four billion colour settings.

Schott AG is excited to announce its new collection, which is accompanied by the apt motto: ‘Perfect Lighting. Perfect Atmosphere’. It includes the new HeliCurve, a flexible RGBW (red, green, blue, white) LED that can be curved, even to a narrow-angle. The concept allows for new designs and functional improvements of various cabin features, such as seat pockets, aisles, armrests, and on curved surfaces.

It comes alongside the reveal of its compact and elegant SCHOTT® Opal and SCHOTT® Sapphire series of compact, elegant In-Seat Reading Lights that are inspired by the luminescence of gemstones.

Passenger amenities

Lighting can also be used to improve the seating experience for each passenger.

Beadlight Ltd, a specialist and pioneer in LED in-seat reading lights, has its Sirocco elegant fixed position light. It’s designed to be discreet and provide an effective defined pool of light to the required area. It is currently featured on Virgin Atlantic’s A350 cabin interior.

Adding to its floor lighting solutions, STG Aerospace also has its own LED Reading Lights. The 737 & 757 liTeMood® are lights that are designed to cover the passenger area without spilling over to neighbouring seats.  This creates a more restful, private space and a greater sense of personal control.

Light for the future

Cabin lighting has come a long way and is now seen as an integral part of the passenger experience. The increased need for sustainability in the next decade will also drive forward more innovation in this sector.

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