The sneaky reason airlines have blue seats onboard – and it affects your behaviour
NEXT time you board a plane, you’re likely to not pay much attention to your seat.
However, the airline industry have a sneaky way to keep passengers feeling calmer.
Lots of planes have blue seats in the cabin, even if they have a very colourful brand.
Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways all have blue seats, albeit with a pop of yellow or orange that matches the company logo.
The colour blue makes people feel calm and relaxed, according to experts.
Shelly Zundell, who previously worked for design firm that included clients like Boeing, previously said: “The idea is to give airplanes a more residential feeling, with relaxing colors and restful designs.”
Aviation designer Nigel Goode added to the Telegraph: “Blue became the colour of choice because it’s a conservative, non-contentious, corporate shade.
“It’s all about making the travelling experience less stressful and blue is said to evoke a feeling of calm.
“While some of the more budget airlines might use brasher, bolder shades, most others go with muted tones – the overarching aim is to create a home-like relaxing feel.
Rishi Kapoor, founder and CEO of Nanak Flights backed this up too, saying it makes people feel “less stress.”
He added: “It might seem like an insignificant detail, but it’s one that helps make flying the best way to travel.”
Experts at Colour Psychology explained: “Blue is a colour that suggests peace – it’s the colour of the calm sea and the clear sky, both of which are linked to inner serenity, calm and clarity.
“Blue is also shown to slow heart rate and breathing.”
It’s not just for being a calming influence – but darker blue seats also allows stains to blend in more than if it was a bright colour.
And there is a reason planes are often painted white too.
Not only does white not fade as quickly, but it reduces the changes of bird strikes as it stands out while in the air.
They are also easier to spot in the case of an emergency.
And finally, it keeps the airline cooler as white reflects light and heat.
Of course, airlines will still add their own colourful branding, normally on the tail or along the side.
It’s not just airlines using colour to influence you while travelling.
Heathrow’s former head of design Barry Weekes previously said the colour of the floor tiles change, going from white to black to guide people to move on.
And carpeted terminals are also believed to make people spend more money.