There are two things I dread about flights. A. having noisy kids on board, and B. not getting to use the skybridge, or that ramp that lets you directly enter the plane. Most budget airlines don’t offer the skybridge service, and as a result, you have to be ferried around in a bus to your flight, where you climb up the stairs to enter the cabin. It honestly isn’t the worst thing in the world, but I do think there’s a better way to have passengers board their flight. For the most part, the X-ferry Bus concept seems to be that solution.

Designer: Li Jiali

A Future Star Award-winner at the Goldreed Industrial Design Award, the X-ferry Bus is a clever hybrid between the ferry bus and the skybridge. It comes with an independent cabin that dislodges off the bus’ body (sort of like the loading area of a dump truck) and hydraulically lifts upwards. The cabin then aligns directly with the entrance of the airplane, and a door opens, allowing passengers from inside the bus to exit the bus and directly enter their flight. Pretty clever, no?

The X-ferry Bus has its own distinct advantages. For starters, it’s an incredibly convenient solution for passengers and airlines alike, providing a comfortable boarding process that isn’t filled with crowded lines, irate passengers, and long wait times. The X-ferry Bus proves to be even more useful in bad weather conditions since passengers don’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain or snow as they deboard the bus and rush up the stairs to enter the aircraft. Finally, passengers with disabilities have it easy too, since there aren’t any staircases to overcome either, making the X-ferry Bus an incredibly accessible solution!

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