Air travel could take on a whole new form from 2026, with low-cost airlines set to introduce so-called "standing seats" for passengers. After lengthy safety assessments, the unconventional solution will be rolled out to short-haul flights and is said to increase aircraft capacity by as much as 20 percent.
Vertical seating, known as Skyrider 2.0, will be designed for flights lasting up to two hours. This seating system was developed by the Italian company Aviointeriors, which introduced its first version back in 2010, but due to negative reactions and security issues, the solution was never implemented.
Improved version – Skyrider 2.0 – was demonstrated at the 2018 Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. These are seats that resemble a horse saddle: passengers sit in them while half-standing. Although this model has caused a lot of debate, manufacturers assure that it will allow for more efficient use of aircraft space.
"Skyrider 2.0 is an innovative solution designed to increase the density of seats in the cabin, while at the same time opening up travel opportunities to a wider range of passengers," Aviointeriors said in a statement.
Comfort and safety – still raise questions
Despite the promised benefits for airlines – lower operating costs and higher passenger capacity – such seating faces considerable resistance. Aviation experts raise serious doubts about comfort and safety, especially during turbulence or emergency situations.
However, the airlines counter that Skyrider 2.0 are equipped with seat belts and meet all international safety requirements. In addition, this type of seat will only be offered on selected short-haul flights.
The manufacturer also notes that the new version features more padding and a more robust construction – each row of seats is attached to the floor and ceiling, rather than just to floor rails, as in the previous version.
Passengers are still skeptical
Despite efforts by manufacturers and airlines to emphasize the rationality of this decision, many passengers are approaching this innovation with caution or even hostility. The first waves of criticism have already appeared on social networks, in which Skyrider are compared to "chicken cages" or buses parked in the air.
It remains unclear which airline will be the first to make this move, but industry experts agree that if this experiment proves successful, it could fundamentally change the concept of air travel, especially in the budget segment.
