What are standing seats in planes and what is their purpose?

The seats in airplanes have always been a point of contention between travellers and companies. While travellers are looking for as much comfort as possible, companies on the other hand are aiming to reduce weight and fuel and thus end up hiking prices for journeys.Now, it seems airplane companies have figured out a new way to save their budgets by introducing standing-only seating options. Yes, we do get the oxymoron here but for some this idea might not be that bad.According to an Instagram account @entreprenuershipquite, which has a following of 2.8 million, 23-inch bike-style padded seats that allow passengers to lean at an angle without completely sitting down could be introduced in 2026. This standing seating called ‘Skyrider 2.0’ will be introduced by manufacturer Aviointeriors and will help increase the passenger capacity by 20%, reduce the weight by 50% and take up less space than the average economy seat. This unique style of seating was initially introduced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 in Hamburg. It is an improved version of a concept that was tried and failed in 2010.

But, Skyrider 2.0 stands out with more padding and firmer mountings than the previous seatings, along with poles connecting each row to the ceiling and floor. In a 2018 statement, it was said that this seating represents ‘the new frontier of low-cost tickets and passenger experience’Michael O’Leary, the chief of Ryanair, has been ready to use the ‘standing berths’ since 2012.

Back then he had said he wanted his Boeing’s 737 and 800 fitted with 0 rows of them and 15 rows of traditional seats. He also suggested that they could cost as little as £1 to £5.However, for the prospective passengers, standing seats don’t seem like an experience they want to embark on while in the air. People have been taking to various social media platforms to condemn the increasing low budgets of airlines and how they are sacrificing customer comfort for the same.“This proves my theory that air travel digresses from luxury to greyhound to city bus,” wrote a person on X. “most americans are not healthy enough to hold a standing squat like that this is a ridiculous concept & quite a sinister one too,” added another. Some even added humorous quips like, “One fart and the whole section will be cooked.”While passengers may think of crammed-up seats and uncomfortable spaces when thinking of standing seats, according to Gaetano Perugini, engineering adviser at Aviointeriors, the concept is not about creating “cattle class” and cramming in as many passengers as possible.“The message is, we do not want to put thousands of people in the cabin, we want to offer a multi-class configuration, which is nowadays impossible if you want to reach the maximum load of passengers,” he told CNN Travel.

This idea though is something many people seem to be okay with. “If you’re paying dirt cheap economy I don’t see an issue. It’s not like they are banning first class and normal seats,” added a person on X.