Airbus can now put crew bunks in the cargo hold of its A350s

The US Federal Aviation Administration has created new safety rules for crew rest areas located in the cargo compartment of airplanes. This means Airbus can now install these lower-deck crew bunks on its A350-941 aircraft, a design feature not covered by older regulations.

Airlines want to fit more passengers on long-haul flights. Moving crew rest areas out of the main cabin frees up space for more seats, which means more revenue per flight. This small regulatory change unlocks a new design option for aircraft manufacturers and airlines looking to maximize capacity.