Perceived and Recorded Temperature in Aircraft Cabins during 143 Flights
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This essay reports on the perceived and recorded temperature in aircraft cabins during 143 flights. In each flight, passengers reported their experience. They recorded temperature and humidity after boarding and one hour later. The reports show that fewer than half of the passengers perceived the temperature as “good.” Most passengers (39%) perceived it as hot, and some (17%) perceived it as cold. Comparing the temperatures with guidelines shows that 18% of the recorded temperatures in the cabin were empirically too hot and 2% empirically too cold. The differences between passengers in what they perceive as a good temperature are large, indicating that a possibility to adapt aircraft temperature individually is important.
Authors: Matthew Nicholls, Peter Vink
Institution: Delft University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408013463