Brace Yourself: The Standing Plane Seat Is Coming

The Future of Flying Looks… Upright

Standing seats on planes are no longer a concept—they’re coming to reality. Italian manufacturer Aviointeriors plans to launch its Skyrider 2.0 on European airlines as soon as 2026.

These half-standing, saddle-style perches are fixed between the floor and ceiling of the aircraft. Passengers lean at a 45-degree angle, supported by their legs and core muscles during flight. The seats are extremely upright—nearly vertical—and clearly designed for short-haul routes only.

Cram More, Fly More, Pay Less

Each seat is 50% lighter than traditional economy chairs, reducing aircraft weight and fuel use. They also require less maintenance and cleaning, keeping planes in the air longer. With this setup, airlines can fit up to 20% more passengers on a single flight.

Expect these perches only on flights under two hours—think short hops across Europe. The trade-off? Less comfort, more crowding, and only 23 inches of legroom.

Budget Airlines Are Eyeing the Sky

A handful of European low-cost carriers are reportedly planning to install Skyriders. The aim? Sell more tickets, offer lower fares, and squeeze extra profit from every takeoff.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has long pushed for standing seats, even calling them “bar stools with seatbelts.”

But so far, none have appeared on his fleet—or any airline, for that matter. This may soon change.

Pushback from Passengers Has Already Begun

The original Skyrider design faced fierce backlash after debuting at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in 2018. Instagram users called them “torture devices” and “human coat hangers.” One commenter suggested the designers should “only fly in these seats themselves.”

Despite the criticism, Aviointeriors claims the seats meet all required safety standards. Still, don’t expect them on Sydney–Melbourne flights any time soon.

Not Meant for Long Haul

Even Aviointeriors admits these seats won’t work for longer flights. Passengers simply can’t hold a near-upright position for hours on end. But for quick hops and ultra-budget tickets? The airlines may count on you to say yes.

Whether that’s worth it is another matter entirely.

 

Photo: AvioInteriors