Windowless planes? Virtual windows are the future, airline says

Would you want to fly eight hours or more on a airplane with no windows? That could be the future of flying, says Emirates airlines president Tim Clark. Instead of real windows on the outside of the plane, passengers may instead look at images streamed onto a virtual window that’s only on the inside of the cabin. “Imagine now a fuselage as you're boarding with no windows, but when you get inside, there are windows," Clark said. "Now you have one fuselage which has no structural weaknesses because of windows. The aircraft are lighter, the aircraft could fly faster, they'll burn far less fuel and fly higher." It may sound far-fetched, but a limited version of the concept is already flying on the Dubai-based airline’s new Boeing 777-300ER jets. Emirates has already installed a type of virtual window on its suites occupying the middle section of the 777-300ER's first-class cabin; the suites in the middle would not ordinarily have a window since they’re not adjacent to the cabin wall. Emirates' suites along the sides of the cabin have normal windows.<br/>