The chaos of passengers scrambling to cram cases into overhead stowage compartments on planes is increasingly likely to become a thing of the past.
That’s because new breeds of extra-large overhead bins have been rolled out, with more inked-in to be fitted in the near future.
The new Airspace L Bin, by Airbus, will be fitted to 38 of German carrier Lufthansa’s A320s in January 2025.
They provide 60 per cent more bag capacity than the previous-generation A320 bins, allowing for three extra bags per bin and able to accommodate bags that are 61cm (height) x 38cm (width) x 25cm (depth).
Airbus said: ‘L Bins are designed to be retrofitted in three to five days, which is Airbus’s fastest and most cost-effective A320 retrofit solution.
‘This results in less aircraft downtime for the airline. Secondly, L Bins allow space for three extra bags per bin, creating a better experience for customers and crew when boarding and deplaning.’
The carrier added: ‘The bins, made of ultra-lightweight and highly stable composite products, will be manufactured by EFW (Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH).
‘As with all Airbus retrofits, reusing the same components to minimise waste is a key consideration. The L Bin reuses many parts of the original bin, including the sidewall, ceiling and lighting.’
American Airlines, meanwhile, was the launch customer for the Airbus Airspace XL overhead luggage bin, which can accommodate cases up to 60cm in height (24 inches) x 40cm in width (16 inches) x 25cm (10 inches) in depth.
American launched the Airspace XL on its Airbus A321 neo aircraft.
Airbus Head of Commercial Services Europe, Charbel Youzkatli, said: ‘We know from talking with airline customers that bigger bins are a clear need to enhance the passenger experience. As with the XL Bins, the L Bins provide more space with the added advantage of a plug-and-play retrofit.
‘We are thrilled to see Lufthansa as the first to offer the L Bins to its passengers and to reap the efficiency benefits it brings to aircraft turnarounds.’