I was thinking the exact same thing. I was envisioning a "pod" system that you could have about 10 rows which could hold about 40 to 80 passengers each. Each pod would be a cylinder that could be delivered to the aircraft on the tarmac upon boarding. On disembarking they would be delivered to the jet bridge in a sort of star arrangement where you could have 3 to 4 pods attached at any given time.
This system would be interesting because you have effectively detached the aircraft from the passengers. The airline need only deliver pods to airport destinations. This would create an entirely new supply chain and offers more flexibility in scheduling. Plus the added bonus of decreased boarding and disembarking because all the aircraft needs to do is load pods.
I think there is a lot of merit to the containerization approach.
The problem with a pod system is weight and complexity. Generally speaking, you'd need to create at least two pressure vessels (main cabin, and cockpit), which would have to be joined by a hermetically sealed passage.
Between the inner pod, and the outer skin, you'd need to make sure that doors would work in almost any condition. Sure, you can blow the bolts holding the tail on and use parachutes to make the pod descend, though without the pilots since they're in a separate pressure vessel. But what if there's a fire when the plane is on the ground? Parachutes won't work in that situation, and neither would ejection rockets (unless you want to crush the passenger's spines by launching a multi-ton pod high enough for parachutes to deploy).
The main problem facing airlines is simple. How to pack in as many people as possible onto a flight in order to cover it's costs (airport fees, fuel, food, wages, etc.). More people who can cover the flight's costs means more profit for the airline, or lower costs for the passengers.
The real question with the Pod idea is this. Either way people have to board through a door and go to their seats, so that remains the same. But consider this, would people have to board a pod immediately at the gate, or would they wait in a lounge until the plane arrives? Because if they board the pod immediately, it may save time, but passengers will be sitting in cramped seats, with only airline food, and the limited toilet facilities available for possibly HOURS (if the plane is delayed or the flight cancelled in the end. Since these passengers are not physically ON the plane, the passengers' rights would be questionable in these situations.
Technically you could also fill out a pod and have it wait in a holding area on the airport tarmac while the plane arrives, freeing up gates for other airlines. But this impacts the airport retail system (restaurants & stores), which all pay rent to airports. If you eliminate passengers waiting in gates, you eliminate the need for retail. You eliminate retail, you make it that airports would increase fees for airline operations at the airport. And in the end, it would impact ticket prices negatively.
This system would be interesting because you have effectively detached the aircraft from the passengers. The airline need only deliver pods to airport destinations. This would create an entirely new supply chain and offers more flexibility in scheduling. Plus the added bonus of decreased boarding and disembarking because all the aircraft needs to do is load pods.
I think there is a lot of merit to the containerization approach.
BUMP: Found this link on the subject http://innopedia.wikidot.com/multi-modal-passenger-container...