Get ready to saddle up at 35,000 feet: standing-seats on flights are coming, and soon.
Budget airlines are preparing to roll out standing-only “seats” as early as 2026, in a push to cram more passengers on short-haul flights and cut ticket prices, according to Euro Weekly.
The concept comes from Italian manufacturer Aviointeriors, which unveiled the Skyrider 2.0, a vertical seat, with a saddle section that looks like something from a bicycle.
These new seats would allow up to 20% more passengers per flight and could, in theory, drop ticket prices significantly.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, long known for his cost-cutting initiatives, has supported the concept for a while, saying people who want cheap travel should be willing to stand.
Ryanair floated a similar plan over a decade ago but got shut down by regulators. Now, with updated designs and renewed interest from budget carriers, the Skyrider may finally take off… if it passes safety checks.
Aviointeriors claims that the Skyrider 2.0 “passes every safety test – with rapid-exit drills and all,” according to Euro Weekly.
Unsurprisingly, prospective flyers are split. Some call it a genius move for budget travelers; others are calling it a dystopian nightmare.
“The tickets will definitely be mad cheap. If that’s the case, those tickets will sell. I see the vision,” one commenter on X said.
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