Passenger wellbeing, it seems, is the new luxury, especially on ultra long-haul flights where added levels of comfort innovation and breathable fabrics are being delivered to soften the ride.
Drawing on over 160 years of experience in textile innovation, the John Horsfall team is well placed to detect the trends. Oliver Platts, Commercial Director, says: “Current trends centre around the merging of wellness, aesthetics and sustainability. Airlines are no longer just offering functional blankets and sleepwear – they’re curating a sleep experience. Elevated materials, tactile weaves, temperature-regulating fabrics and soothing colour palettes are replacing the more traditional onboard options.”
And sustainability is no longer optional when it comes to these comfort products, he says, with airlines increasingly seeking to balance environmental credentials with performance and comfort.
Platts adds: “We’ve developed high-quality, lower-impact textiles using recycled fibres and water-saving processes, yet comfort and durability remain paramount, so our challenge is to match or exceed our already exacting standards while pushing eco-innovation forward.”
The team has already collaborated on sleep-enhancing product ranges using breathable materials and layered textures to support natural rest, including bespoke mattress toppers and duvets that mimic the feel of a five-star hotel bed. But Platts believes there is more to do.
“Ultra long-haul flights demand deeper consideration of circadian rhythms, thermal comfort and even personalisation, so we’re exploring adaptive fabrics and multi-functional products that can help enhance the sense of space and personal control. The future of inflight wellbeing is immersive, sustainable, and passenger-led – from rest-enhancing textiles to elegant design details,” he says.
WESSCO International also notes the eco priority. Petros Sakkis, Chief Marketing Officer, says: “Sustainability is a clear priority, but it has to meet expectations on comfort, durability and price too. As material technology improves and scales, we’re seeing more options that do just that. We’re also investing in life-cycle assessments to give our airline partners real data on the impact of products — so they can make informed, cost-effective and circular choices.”
Eco imperatives
FORMIA too has put sustainability at the heart of its offering having been awarded the EcoVadis Bronze Medal for its sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives. The EcoVadis assessment evaluates 21 sustainability criteria across environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement to provide a globally trusted benchmark. “This milestone validates the real progress we’ve made while offering a clear path to go even further,” says Roland Grohmann, CEO and Managing Partner.
Flightparts has its focus on sustainable fabrics. Its latest eco-conscious pillow and pillowcase set is filled with recycled polyester and wrapped in breathable cotton to provide soft, hypoallergenic support. It is complemented by plush duvets made with fleece and peach skin or towel-textured fabric offering warmth and durability in changing cabin conditions.
The team’s premium sleepwear uses sustainable blends including cotton, Tencel, rPET and Spandex. These are breathable, moisture-wicking and gentle on the skin, and claim to elevate comfort without sacrificing sustainability. The team prioritises wrinkle-resistance and durable design to ensure onboard bedding items stay fresh and functional throughout multiple uses, hence adding lasting value.
Buzz Products shines a light on collaborations with established wellness brands as another way to distinguish an onboard offering. Simon Yaffe, Director of Client Services, says: “These collaborations provide expertise and credibility and can help mitigate the physical and mental strain of ultra long-haul travel, creating a more holistic journey that places passenger wellbeing at its heart.”
His team has, for example, facilitated the American Airlines collaboration with Nest Bedding for its curated ‘Sleep Collection’ designed to elevate inflight rest and relaxation. It features luxurious sleeper suits and slippers, and a premium mattress topper made from memory foam with diamond quilting to ensure a luxuriously soft finish.
WESSCO’s Sakkis notes that recent research indicates that 82% of US consumers now consider wellness a top or important priority in their daily lives. In response, his team is forging collaborations with forward-thinking wellness brands such as Neuro, which offers functional mints infused with clean nootropics to support energy and focus mid-journey; Patchology, which brings targeted skincare solutions like under-eye gels and hydrating masks onboard; and Som Sleep, delivering a travel-friendly sleep aid. He says: “These initiatives reflect our commitment to enhancing the passenger experience through purposeful, wellness-driven innovation.”
Luxury trends
Tim Morris, Head Global, Mills Textiles, agrees that wellbeing and sustainability are foremost in an airline’s decision-making process. “Airlines are dialled into the ‘sleep experience’ and in premium cabins look to make that akin to a high-end hotel,” he explains. “Classic, understated elegance is key. We are drawing inspiration from our retail bedding business which has seen similar trends for elegant luxury.
“Trends are towards more plush fabrics and thoughtfulness on how the bedding works as a linked collection, rather than just individual products, to create a layered dream-like sleep experience for the passenger so they not only wake feeling refreshed but also carry with them the memory of a great sleep experience and thus a great experience with the airline.”
Global-c was this year recognised with the Onboard Hospitality Best for Wellbeing Award for the Nimbus Pillow by Ostrichpillow it brought onboard for American Airlines’ Premium Economy. This ergonomic pillow allows passengers optimal lower back support, accommodating various body shapes and individual preferences. It is made from sustainable rPET microfibre, derived from recycled plastic bottles.
And Matrix has similarly forged a partnership with natural lifestyle and wellness brand, Bamford, for Cathay Pacific to bring its reputation for ethical and sustainable sourcing to the new onboard bedding collection. It features a premium, 400 thread-count Bamford pillow, duvet and plush mattress. All items were redesigned to avoid single-use plastic, and a larger format encourages post-flight use.
Delta has announced a luxurious Delta One bedding collection which includes a collaboration with Italian fashion brand, Missoni, launching this summer. To enhance the sleep experience, Delta’s popular mattress pad will now come with added memory foam ‘cuddle pillow’ for flights of more than 12 hours.
Maintaining the luxe feel continues to be key. Manoj Pridhanani, Kaelis Chief Design Officer & Head of Sustainability, notes: “We’re seeing bedding and loungewear take cues from high-end hotel suites, with ultra-soft textures, breathable fabrics and even dual-purpose designs. Pyjamas are no longer just inflight attire—they’re keepsakes. Passengers love collecting them. The goal is for them to reflect each airline’s identity while feeling like something passengers would happily wear at home too.”
The Kaelis team recently launched a reversible comfort set for Italian airline Neos, giving passengers the option of a luxe velvet feel or a soft peach-skin texture. And for Air India it created a duvet which combines light-weight fluffiness with ergonomic drape and elegant stitching inspired by Jharokas — the intricate palace windows of India.
Yaffe at Buzz agrees that luxe remains important: “Sleep is critical to overall wellbeing, and extended flights demand deeper and more restorative rest for passengers. To encourage quality sleep airlines are investing in premium bedding – plush duvets, memory foam pillows, and mattress toppers that mirror hotel-level comfort.
“These are often complemented with sleep aids such as calming pillow mists and pulse point oils, using essential oils like lavender and chamomile to encourage relaxation. Infight sleepwear has also evolved with breathable, stretchable fabrics and soft tailoring to ensure passengers can move and rest comfortably. Loungewear now prioritises comfort and style, inviting passengers to fully switch into rest mode.”
Technological change
Textile innovation is also making its mark. Linstol sees developments such as cooling pillows and temperature-regulating fabrics, along with comfort and wellbeing products now at the forefront of airline decision-making. In response, the team has developed AquaThread — a yarn crafted from discarded oyster shells and recycled plastic bottles, hence transforming post-consumer waste into high-performance luxury.
Each kilo of AquaThread repurposes six oyster shells and sixty plastic bottles, creating textiles that are warm, breathable, naturally anti-microbial, static-resistant and odour-fighting, without relying on harsh chemicals. Its versatility means it is suitable for blankets, sleepwear and bedding.
Paula Wines, Creative Director, Amenities and Luxury Brand Promotions at Linstol, says: “We believe sustainability and sophistication should go hand in hand. AquaThread allows airlines to offer passengers a story of innovation, responsibility and connection to the world around us as well as great comfort.”
In short, she concludes: “On long-haul flights comfort is simply a non-negotiable”.
