London-based design company Seymourpowell has revealed designs for its new vertical airship concept, which could transport passengers from London to New York in 37 hours.

According to the company, its vision for the Aircruise is based on the premise that 'slow is the new fast' and would provide an environmentally-sustainable mode of transport powered by solar energy and lifted by hydrogen. Capable of accommodating 100 passengers, initial plans for Aircruise would see the vessel boast a bar/lounge area, four duplex apartments, a penthouse and five smaller apartments, as well as a control deck.

Six flight crew - including two engineers - are expected to operate Aircruise, which will have a cruising speed of between 100-150kmph (62-93mph) with no tail or headwind. A further 14 support staff will run the hotel element. The 265m (869ft)-tall airship would feature four main envelopes able to hold 330,000m3 (10.6 million ft3) of hydrogen gas, while large hydrogen fuel cells would be used to provide on-board power and some drinking water.

Seymourpowell design director Nick Talbot said: "The Aircruise concept questions whether the future of luxury travel should be based around space-constrained, resource hungry, and all too often stressful airline travel. "A more serene transport experience will appeal to people looking for a more reflective journey, where the experience of travel itself is more important than getting from A to B quickly."

Seymourpowell was asked to produce a detailed computer animation of the Aircruise experience after the design company attracted the attention of the South Korea-based developer Samsung Construction and Trading (SCT). SCT design director Seung Min Kim added: "In an age when environmental impact is a key consideration for architecture, we are keen to extend this vision of the future by searching for solutions that can be realised by 2015 - the year that many futurologists foresee as the turning point for the future."

Image: Seymourpowell