More people are flying than ever before. The Transportation Security Administration reports that a record 771.5 million travelers passed through US airports in 2017, an increase of 5% from 2016. This pattern is also reflected globally: 2017 saw nearly nine billion airline passengers worldwide, a 7% increase from 2016.
With so many airline passengers, airports and planes are becoming uncomfortably overcrowded. In response, a host of new concepts are imagining alternatives to air travel in the hopes of eliminating its pain points and the disruption of daily life. From mobile hotel rooms to community centers on wheels, these futuristic travel concepts are latching on to the potential of the much-hyped self-driving car. They propose merging transportation and hospitality for a more seamless and comfortable travel experience, hoping to recreate the privacy and comfort of home for people on the go.