Ask anyone in aviation “What will jets look like in the future?” and you’ll usually get a thoughtful pause, followed by predictions ranging from the sensible to the spectacular. It’s a question that crops up at conferences, in interviews, and over coffee with clients. And, if I’m honest it’s a question that’s always delightful, but perhaps not quite the right one. Because if we could answer it with confidence, we’d only be talking about what’s possible with today’s knowledge – which doesn’t say much for the spirit of invention.
It’s always interesting to look back at how the future was imagined. Star Trek promised us food replicators and transporters; The Jetsons expected flying cars and robot housekeepers by now. Meanwhile, classic films like Blade Runner gave us off-world colonies and lifelike androids in 2019, but missed the smartphone completely. These predictions tend to fall into two camps: either quaintly retro in hindsight, or so far-fetched they become a kind of magic.
The reality is that the most extraordinary changes in our industry rarely announce themselves with a flourish. More often, they slip quietly into daily life and are used because they solve a real problem for a real client. From my perspective at Camber, every new project is a front-row seat to the next chapter in private aviation. Our clients, whether they’re heads of state, CEOs, or simply passionate about flight, share a simple wish: an interior that feels entirely their own, built for comfort, capability, and – if we’re honest – a healthy bit of pride.
So, if you were to ask me what’s genuinely on the horizon for jet interiors, I’d argue that the future isn’t a distant, speculative concept. It’s unfolding, piece by piece, in hangars and workshops right now.
Faster and smarter designs through digitisation
When I first started out, creating a bespoke cabin interior was a bit like tailoring a Savile Row suit – with the slight inconvenience that the client’s “fitting” required a locked hangar and a good deal of improvisation with a tape measure, to the extent we’d actually build up mock-ups using plywood to give the shape of the cabin frames (to give it shape) and then carve full-scale representations of the seats, monuments, sidewalls, bulkheads, and more. This provided the visualisation not only for the client but also for the completion centre.Whilst the care and attention remain the same today, there isn’t the need for repeated physical “fittings” before starting a project.
Technologies such as LIDAR scanning and advanced 3D visualisation have fundamentally changed the way we approach interior projects. Today, we can scan an entire cabin in a matter of hours, generating a digital twin with remarkable accuracy. Crucially, these tools enable a far more collaborative process. Engineers, designers, and clients can now view and refine the digital cabin together, no matter where they are in the world.
Design and engineering work can start while the jet is still in service, with the ability to build monuments and seating prior to the aircraft’s arrival at the facility. Initial fit checks are then performed once the aircraft arrives, and the original cabin has been removed – before finishing the monuments and completing the upholstery of the seating, sidewall and ceiling panels. The result is shorter downtime, higher quality, and a better experience for our clients.
The age of true connectivity
Of all the advances in recent years, perhaps the most significant has been in inflight broadband. Not so long ago, streaming a film onboard could cost more than the director’s cut – thousands of dollars in data fees for a single viewing. Now, with flat-rate systems such as Starlink, high-speed connectivity is rapidly becoming the standard rather than a luxury.
On a recent installation, the monthly cost of unlimited, high-speed inflight internet fell to around a quarter of what it was just a few years ago, while being significantly faster (and more stable). This change impacts much more than just cost; it’s about enabling people to do more. The modern private jet is now an office, a cinema, or a family living room, as and when required. With reliable, always-on connections, business and personal life can continue seamlessly at 40,000 feet.
Bespoke customisation
One thing that never changes is the desire for individuality. No two clients are alike, and their aircraft shouldn’t be either. The days of the generic interior are long gone; what we’re seeing now is a clear focus on truly personal, story-driven spaces. Clients increasingly want their jets to be an extension of their home: comfortable, inviting, and distinctly their own.
Wellbeing is also rising up the agenda: acoustic design for a quieter environment, advanced air filtration, adaptive lighting, and materials chosen as much for sustainability as for style. Today’s clients increasingly seek interiors that support memorable meals in flight, easy socialising, true relaxation, restful sleep, and productive work. One of the great advantages of a refurbishment is the ability to create a cabin layout and experience that the original manufacturer never offered (and in many cases, simply cannot produce) resulting in a space that is genuinely unique and tailored to the individual’s tastes and needs. Digital tools allow us to visualise and refine every element before work begins, giving clients confidence that the finished interior will match their vision.
Sustainable luxury – the rise of the ‘Refresh’
Sustainability in private aviation is no passing trend. Refreshing a high-value pre-owned jet is both a practical and responsible choice. With modern scanning, modular interiors, and next-generation, low-impact materials, a refreshed jet can meet or exceed the standards of a brand-new aircraft, while avoiding unnecessary waste.
For many owners, opting for a refresh is about stewardship and legacy as much as economics. It’s a clear statement that luxury and responsibility can – and should – go hand in hand.
The irreplaceable human touch
But most importantly, no amount of technology can replace the experience and skill of the people who bring these interiors to life. The future of our industry will depend as much on collaboration and mentorship as it will on digital transformation. At Camber, we find that every project is a team effort, combining years of expertise with fresh ideas and creative problem-solving.
Supporting and developing the next generation through partnerships, education, and a culture of curiosity remains fundamental to our approach. It’s how we keep advancing standards, one project at a time.
The next 25 years and beyond…
And if you’re still wondering what jets will look like in 2050, or even in 2030, the best answer is: I hope we don’t know. If we did, it would mean we’re only recycling yesterday’s ideas. The real breakthroughs, the ones that matter, always seem obvious in hindsight but are impossible to predict. If history has shown us anything, it’s that the future is both more surprising and more subtle than we expect. And that’s as it should be.
So, where are jet interiors headed? Not, I suspect, towards outlandish fantasy, but towards something more meaningful: interiors that are adaptable, intelligent, and, above all, deeply human. The best cabins, like the best inventions, are the ones that tell a story. Not of someone else’s forecast, but of genuine progress, creativity, and a willingness to push beyond what we know today.
If we do our work well, the future of jet interiors won’t look like science fiction. It will look – comfortably, elegantly, and unmistakably – like home.
