Standing airline seats concept faces criticism over practicality and safety

Rumors about "standing-only" airline seats have resurfaced, following a discussion sparked by Aviation Insider on social media. The concept, known as "Skyrider" seats, was introduced by the Italian company Avio Interiors at the 2018 Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. These seats allow passengers to lean against them at a 45-degree angle, saving space and potentially reducing fares for short-haul flights.

Airline Ratings CEO Sharon Petersen criticized the idea, stating that it is more of a publicity stunt than a practical solution. She pointed out that retrofitting aircraft with these seats would be costly and would require additional safety measures like oxygen masks. Petersen also questioned the operational feasibility of serving hot drinks and managing carry-on baggage in such seating arrangements.

Despite these concerns, Petersen acknowledged that if all challenges were overcome, low-cost travel could become possible. However, she emphasized that comfort complaints are misplaced since purchasing these seats would be optional.