An accessible lavatory concept for wide body (dual aisle) aircraft generated a lot of buzz at the 2026 Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) for being the first to incorporate an adult changing table.
The so-called “Metamorphic Lavatory,” designed to accommodate passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs), is the work of Japanese aircraft interior supplier Jamco Corporation. The company is known for supplying lavatories for the Boeing 787 aircraft type.
Developed in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Metamorphic Lavatory utilizes the space of two adjacent lavatory units and a connecting cross aisle to provide more than three times the space of a traditional airplane lavatory. A series of folding doors and wall panels are adjusted to enclose the expanded space, ensuring privacy for passengers with accessibility needs.
I tested a demo unit which was displayed on the Jamco stand at AIX. The expanded lavatory was so large that I was able to roll my full-sized power wheelchair inside to test the various accessibility features.
Among the accessibility components in place are dual grab bars — one on each side of the toilet. The outboard grab bar has a folding mechanism and can be moved up and out of the way to accommodate a safe transfer from an onboard aisle chair (or wheelchair) to the toilet.
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Jamco engineers shared that the lavatory was designed to accommodate a disabled passenger and up to two carers, exceeding the minimum federal regulations for accessible lavatories on wide body aircraft.
Of particular note was the inclusion of a changing table large and sturdy enough to accommodate adult passengers. During the demonstration, I transferred from my own wheelchair onto the changing table. While the changing table is fixed height and oddly shaped (so as not to prevent egress via the lavatory door), I believe that it would prove usable to most travelers in need of an adult changing table.
Many travelers will wonder if the Metamorphic Lavatory solution could be paired with a wheelchair securement space like the Airbus Airspace U Suite and the answer is, maybe. Ultimately, the selection of products that will be used to make airplanes more accessible is a decision for airlines, unless governments introduce a new series of regulations. The ideal would certainly be for wheelchair users to roll onboard the aircraft, be secured and use an accessible lavatory all without leaving their own wheelchair, but that may not be realized in the short term.
Jamco's Metamorphic Lavatory concept promises to serve the needs of disabled travelers and families in a way that no other airplane lavatory has done, all while maintaining existing aircraft seating capacity. This product represents a clear win-win for both passengers and airlines, and it is my hope that we will see it onboard aircraft in the near future.
To read more about the wheelchair accessible lavatories currently available on aircraft today, check out this story dedicated to the topic:
John Morris
