{"id":119830,"date":"2025-05-21T12:58:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T12:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/119830\/"},"modified":"2025-05-21T12:58:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T12:58:12","slug":"low-cost-airlines-will-officially-launch-standing-only-seats-in-2026-after-finally-passing-safety-evaluations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/119830\/","title":{"rendered":"Low cost airlines will officially launch ‘standing only seats’ in 2026 after finally passing safety evaluations"},"content":{"rendered":"

By HAYLEY MINN<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 06:42 EDT, 21 May 2025 | Updated: 07:34 EDT, 21 May 2025 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a money-saving move that\u2019s sure to divide holidaymakers \u2013 but several budget airlines will reportedly introduce standing-only seating options next year.<\/p>\n

According to reports, the bike-style padded seats \u2013 which allow passengers to lean at an angle without completely sitting down \u2013 have now met regulation requirements and passed safety assessments.<\/p>\n

These seats will increase passenger capacity on airlines by 20 per cent \u2013 and will come into service in 2026, on flights for up to two hours.<\/p>\n

The upright seating is called Skyrider 2.0 and was unveiled by manufacturer Aviointeriors at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 in Hamburg.<\/p>\n

The horse-saddle-style seating is an improved version of a concept it tried \u2013 and failed – to launch in 2010.<\/p>\n

Skyrider 2.0 has more padding than the previous version and firmer mountings, with poles connecting each row to the ceiling and floor, instead of the frame just being fitted to a rail.<\/p>\n

It said in a statement: \u2018The Skyrider 2.0 is an innovative seat. It allows an ultra-high density in the aircraft cabin. Skyrider 2.0 opens the travelling experience to a wider passenger market, creating also a useful space for the introduction of mixed classes boarded on the same aircraft.<\/p>\n

\u2018Its main feature is the original bottom that ensures an increased upright passenger positon allowing installation of the seat at a reduced pitch, while maintaining an adequate comfort.<\/p>\n

\"It\u2019s <\/p>\n

It\u2019s a money-saving move to that\u2019s sure to divide holidaymakers \u2013 but several budget airlines will reportedly introduce standing-only seating options next year<\/p>\n

\u2018The design of this seat enables [carriers] to increase the passenger number by 20 per cent allowing increasing profits for airline companies.\u2019<\/p>\n

The company added that Skyrider 2.0 weighs 50 per cent less than standard economy seats and has a reduced number of components for \u2018minimum maintenance costs\u2019.<\/p>\n

Its claim is that this seating represents \u2018the new frontier of low-cost tickets and passenger experience\u2019.<\/p>\n

Ryanair CEO Michael O\u2019Leary has been vocal about his desire to use the \u2018standing berths\u2019 since 2012, having said he wants his Boeing’s 737 and 800 fitted with 10 rows of them, and 15 rows of traditional seats.<\/p>\n

Michael has suggested the standing tickets may potentially cost as little as \u00a31 to \u00a35.<\/p>\n

But the budget air travel idea has been met with a lot of pushback from the aviation industry, due to concerns over comfort, as well as safety during turbulence or emergencies.<\/p>\n

However, carriers insist the new seating \u2013 which do have seatbelts – adheres to global safety regulations and will be confined to specific flights.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the half-standing seats haven\u2019t impressed prospective passengers.<\/p>\n

\"These <\/p>\n

These seats will increase passenger capacity on airlines by 20 per cent \u2013 and will come into service in 2026, on flights for up to two hours<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\" \"\" \"The <\/p>\n

The half-standing seats haven\u2019t impressed prospective passengers on social media<\/p>\n

One said: \u2018This is pathetic. Treat humans like humans. My gosh.\u2019<\/p>\n

Another joked: \u2018Soon they will strap you to the wing with an oxygen mask.\u2019<\/p>\n

A third added: \u2018Please never buy these tickets whenever they exist! Don\u2019t help\/support this.\u2019<\/p>\n

And a fourth blasted: \u2018I know \u201cslave ship seating\u201d when I see it. I\u2019ll pass.\u2019<\/p>\n

Share or comment on this article:
\n Low cost airlines will officially launch ‘standing only seats’ in 2026 after finally passing safety evaluations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By HAYLEY MINN Published: 06:42 EDT, 21 May 2025 | Updated: 07:34 EDT, 21 May 2025 It\u2019s a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":119831,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[51,92,1339,183,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-119830","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-dailymail","10":"tag-ryanair","11":"tag-travel","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114545944612017118","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119830"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119830\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119831"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}