What if the next big thing in air travel offered loads of convenience, space and comfort, and did so by quadrupling the travel time in air? Imagine, a mere 18 hours to traverse the continental US?
That’s what the folks at Worldwide Aeros Corporation are betting with the development of their new helium and rotor powered airship the Aeroscraft (think blimp on steroids). Slated for launch in 2010, the airship would offer a whopping one acre of cabin space, accommodate several hundred passengers, and do so traveling at an altitude of only 8,000 feet (making it possible to view dramatic scenery from above and avoiding the need for a pressurized cabin). Moreover, because the design as proposed could take off and land vertically, it would require much less ground space than conventional jets which require lengthy runways.
At first glance, the idea of selling consumers on sluggish airship travel might seem absurd. In a world where time is of the essence and the price of conventional passenger-jet travel continues to plummet ($200 from LAX to JFK?!?!), why on earth would anybody want to book passage on a sloth-like, helium-filled airship similar to the dirigibles of yesteryear?
And then again…If there is one lesson to be learned by the demise of the Concord it is that consumers are apparently not willing to pay top dollar for high-speed luxury jet transport—at least not in numbers large enough to support such a proposition.
So what if you offer to move passengers from point A to point B (as conventional airlines do) but do so with all the amenities of a seagoing cruise ship such as luxury state rooms, a gym, a casino and restaurants. Imagine a scenic, 18 hour-luxury cruise which also gets you from LA to New York in time for a three day weekend?
Heck, even today’s dedicated corporate road warriors who traverse the continent for a single meeting might think twice about the promise of a luxury suite with working space for 5..How’s this for a power-meeting scenario. Set sail from Manhattan at 12:00 pm, sales meeting from 1 to 5, afternoon cocktails and sunset sight-seeing from 5 to 7. Dinner at 9, followed by a good night’s rest, with a comfortable 6 am arrival in LA.
As far-fetched as this may seem, given the recent disdain most consumers express with the current conditions of air-travel (cramped cabins, surly staff, near-painful seat pitch, complete lack of services) we remain intrigued (and impressed) with anyone willing to test the proposition of moving people around in something approximating civility.
Richard Branson take note.
hay!!
good project :)
senks :)
Posted by: FreeStoring | Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 01:51 PM
Never thought of it that way, but it really does make sense now. A little bit in a hurry, didn't get to read everything but will definitely come back later to finish everything. This is my very first comment, I think I like this!
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