Zoom into the Details behind ALICE SYSTEM―Design Concept Committed to Reality Part 2: ALICE Aircraft Introducing Lounge Areas with a New Concept in Air Travel
ALICE SYSTEM, showcased at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, is a futuristic public transportation system model developed by Kawasaki leveraging its robust technological capacity and expertise related to land, sea and air transportation.
In this article, we spoke with the engineer who was in charge of designing the ALICE Aircraft to gain insight into the behind-the-scenes story of its development.
ALICE Aircraft is distinguished by its ability to seamlessly integrate private and shared areas within the aircraft cabin. Key features include: lounge areas accessible throughout the cruise flight; 1.5 m-wide aisles designed to ensure stress-free movement of passengers, particularly to accommodate two wheelchairs passing each other; and the blended wing body, an aircraft design known for its high volumetric efficiency, employed to have the capacity to load hydrogen fuel needed for a direct flight from Tokyo to Paris.
The highlight of ALICE Aircraft lies in the lounge areas which offer impressively spacious and comfortable environments. These areas are designed to provide a premium experience for all passengers, including wheelchair users, individuals with special needs and families with small children, comparable to the comfort found on large cruise ships. The lounges also feature a restaurant with panoramic views and skylight windows, offering a breathtaking view of a star-filled stadium-like sky.
Our commitment to cabin comfort stems from a major challenge in today’s travel: the discomfort many passengers experience from being confined to their seats for extended hours. With ALICE Aircraft we aim to provide a breakthrough solution by enabling in-flight freedom of movement and redefining the passenger experience.
One of the key challenges was designing the cabin docking process in a way that would not cause discomfort for passengers. We explored various methods, such as locating a cabin-receiving bay at the aft, a structure similar to the cargo receiving bay of the Self-Defense Forces’ freighter- which risked making passengers feel like cargo, and lifting the cabin from above the cargo, which could unsettle those with fear of heights. Ultimately, we chose to install a docking bay on the side area of the fuselage to ensure a more reassuring boarding experience.
Also, ensuring safety is a major challenge facing today’s aviation industry. ALICE Aircraft could offer a number of solutions by designing cabin features to serve that purpose. For example, an earthquake-proof structure could be adopted to enable the cabin to reduce cabin movement during turbulence. And an effective step might be taken by providing a feature for the cabin to eject from the aircraft in the event of an emergency escape. In this view, to implement the ALICE Aircraft, we also need to enhance studies on issues related to safety rules and regulations while promoting technological development.
Research Project Group, Aerospace Systems Company
To be continued in Part 3: ALICE Ship Modeled after our Signature Technology Jetfoil
