‘This is pathetic. Treat humans like humans.’
This is just one of the hundreds of comments on an Instagram post that claims standing-only plane seats will soon be coming to low-cost airlines.
The furore is understandable. With strict luggage rules, narrow seats, and hidden fees, flying budget is already somewhat of an endurance test.
And with these new saddle-style seats, economy travel could get even more uncomfortable.
It’s been reported that the seats have now met regulatory requirements and passed safety tests, but are we really about to see the seats on our next flight?
Here’s everything we know so far.
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What is a standing-only plane seat?
Designed by Italian company Aviointeriors, the standing seats look similar to a horse saddle or rollercoaster ride.
They’re attached to the floor and ceiling by a pole, and have a seat pitch (that’s the distance between the seat and the one in front) of just 23 inches. To compare, Ryanair’s average seat pitch is 30 inches.
Taking up less space, Aviointeriors claim you can fit up to 20% more passengers on short-haul flights lasting two hours or less.
Many have shared their disgust at the seats. ‘These corporations don’t care about you!’ wrote one angry commenter, while another said they should be ‘outlawed’.
But the seats aren’t anything new. They were first unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo back in 2010, with an improved model shown at the same Expo in 2018.
Fast forward to 2025, and it’s being claimed that the Skyrider 2.0 has been approved for travel.
Will we see standing-only seats on budget-airlines in the UK?
In 2012, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary sparked backlash when he said he’d consider using the seats. He suggested fitting planes with 10 rows of standing-seats, which would cost as little as £1.
But fast forward to 2025, and a Ryanair spokesperson told Metro that passengers don’t need to worry. When asked if the Irish carrier was set to launch standing-only seats they responded: ‘Ryanair has no plans to do so.’
Wizz Air also responded to Metro‘s query saying: ‘We can confirm that Wizz Air has no plans to introduce standing-only seats.’
Meanwhile, easyJet declined to comment on the introduction of standing-only seats, but there are currently no public plans which suggest we’ll be seeing them on its planes any time soon.
Metro also reached out to Jet2, who are yet to respond.
What changes have we seen in economy plane cabins?
Perhaps the biggest change we’ve seen isn’t seating, but rather overhead lockers.
As more airlines charge for checked baggage, many passengers opt for hand luggage, which is either free, or cheaper. But it often leads to a mad dash to board, with travellers jostling for somewhere to put their suitcase.
Thankfully, Airbus, the leading manufacturer of commercial planes in the UK and Europe, had a solution.
In 2024, they announced that it would be retrofitting some of its planes to include the new and improved Airspace L bins.
These new bins more than half the size again of the previous A320 bins, offering 60% more room, and allowing space for three extra bags per bin. The trick here is that bags are stowed vertically, not horizontally.
Lufthansa was the first airline to receive 38 of the bins in January 2025. Other European airlines, including Iberia and Swiss also said they’ll introduce the new bins.
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