Cape Town - Throughout history, modern travel never ceased to expand, amaze and enhance the way travellers experience air travel.
From monks jumping out of cathedral windows clinging to makeshift parachutes to the very first hot air balloon ride, flying has transformed in many shapes and sizes.
2016 will be no different, says Conde Nast Traveller, and passengers should brace themselves for a few advanced changes this year with creative seat, schmancier airports and affordable (for some) private air travel.
READ: #HoverboardsFails: SA domestic airlines ban trendy new gadget
Sit comfy
While the issue of crowding will not change, in-flight seating could offer a few solutions. Unusual patents have already streamed in, planning to cram passengers above and below each other just to fit everyone in.
Among the crazy ideas, one patent offers a Skydeck on the roof of the plane with a full 360-degree view of the sky.
READ: Brilliant new airplane patent to offer seats on top of aircraft
Cheap private jets
While the rich are getting richer - many are loving the idea of flying private.
Conde Nast explains that we may find smaller turboprops becoming more and more popular and offering trips out of private air terminals. We are already able to flag down our own Uber helicopters for peets-sake.
READ: 10 things you probably don't know about Uber
The world will 'shrink' with speedy travel
The faster the better - aviation is also set to speed up in 2016, with planes making journey's even shorter. Imagination was also sparked with the Skreemr's patent aiming to fly 75 passengers from London to New York in 30 minutes, which is currently a 7.5 hours long flight.
READ: Joburg to London in an hour? Supersonic travel is one step closer to becoming a reality
Starting small but ending big
The city of Durban is set to start giving King Shaka International Airport a big makeover ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth games, expanding their grounds for the huge influx of travellers and equipment set to pass through the KZN terminals in 6 years time.
The airport is already expanding globally and is recognised for being connected to the world. According to Travelstart, by 2060 King Shake is expected to have two parallel runways and the capacity to handle 45 million passengers each year.
Last year over five new carriers announced flights to and from Durban from destinations like Istanbule, Dohan and Addis Ababa.
