Changes in air transport operating environment are examined to show how they are beginning to change the design and use of transport aircraft.
The essential requirement of the changing market is seen to be a new flexibility to provide (a) versatility in the quantity of normal on-demand seats provided in each market, (b) suitability for high capacity seasonal bulk class operations, and (c) suitability for expanding the cargo load capability on selected passenger flights.
Airplane characteristics and advanced technology to satisfy the requirements of the new operating flexibility are discussed.