Next Flight – Standing Room Only?

Posted September 16, 2010 by BookingBuddy

Travelling cattle class can get pretty excruciating, even on the best days, but at least you’re not in sardine class yet. However, it looks like the days of airline passengers squeezing together as if they were on a crowded bus could soon become a reality.

The Italian design company Aviointeriors has just unveiled its new ‘Skyrider’ seat at the Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas conference. Shaped like a saddle, the seat requires passengers to perch at an angle and puts most of their weight on their legs.  The ‘Skyrider’ allows a passenger only 23 inches of legroom, compared to 30 inches on an average economy seat. The company has optimistically compared it to a ride on horseback.

Dominique Menoud, the company’s director general, has tried to reassure potential passengers by reminding us that ‘Cowboys ride eight hours on their horses during the day and still feel comfortable in the saddle.’ The new design could be a hit with budget airlines, which will be able to cram more passengers into their planes, by replacing their current seats with these new ones.

I think I’ll just wait for Santa Claus to bring me that pony I asked for. 

(Photo: jaunted.com)

Categories: Travel News