Will airlines sell standing seat tickets at 'bargain prices'?

hàng không - Ảnh 1. — The design of a standing seat for an aircraft by Italian aviation interior manufacturer Aviainteriors - Photo: AVIAINTERIORS

The circulating articles describe this type of standing seat as having padding, a backrest, seat belts, and being fixed to a pillar connecting the floor to the ceiling of the aircraft cabin. The idea is to optimize cabin space on short flights.

According to Euronews, the standing seat design could allow airlines to increase the number of seats on each flight.

Some news outlets have even speculated that Italian aviation interior manufacturer Aviointeriors is partnering with Irish low-cost airline Ryanair to offer this line of seats, and that rollout could begin as early as 2026.

This rumor is further supported by the fact that Ryanair was once known for its incredibly cheap fares, starting from just 7.99 euros (approximately 9.08 USD).

However, Ryanair has just confirmed to Euronews that it has no plans to sell standing room on its flights.

At the same time, Aviointeriors confirmed that the "skyrider"—a standing seat on an airplane—was actually an idea that originated in 2012 and has not yet been included in their official product line.

According to Euronews, these rumors may have stemmed from previous statements by Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary regarding a series of non-traditional cost-cutting ideas.

In 2010, O'Leary discussed the idea of installing standing seats to optimize aircraft space and offer extremely low fares. He also proposed the idea of charging a fee for each time passengers used the onboard restroom, as well as an "obesity fee" for overweight passengers.

However, to date, no concrete proposals or ideas have been planned or implemented. Some experts believe this is merely a tactic to draw attention to Ryanair.

Standing chairs are still a viable option.

Euronews quoted several experts as saying that implementing standing seat sales on very short flights is still feasible, although no airline has yet adopted this type of seating.

The standing seats designed by Aviointeriors have undergone preliminary safety testing and proven to meet the stringent safety requirements for emergency landings and evacuations mandated by aviation authorities, notably the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

However, experts note that standing seats can be uncomfortable and affect blood circulation, even on short journeys. Ensuring passenger comfort is a major obstacle to commercializing this idea.

In addition, the practice of "cramming" extra seats to maximize profits continues to face criticism from the public and experts.

UYEN PHUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cac-hang-hang-khong-se-ban-ve-ghe-dung-gia-beo-20250524163603186.htm