Face-to-face with a nightmare: Is this the future for economy air travel?

Budget flights might already be cramped, stuffy and noisy - but things could be about to get a whole lot worse. A patent filed by industry supplier Zodiac Seats France proposes to squeeze in more passengers by turning passengers around to they face each other. It would see the middle seat in a section of three reversed, meaning the passenger would have to face two other people on board. The detailed diagrams for the patent also show the arms would have to intertwine, making for an even more intimate trip.

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How Zodiac Seats France describe their plan

Zodiac says that as well as increasing cabin passenger density, passengers will also benefit from shoulder space. There is no guarantee that the seating formations will actually become reality, but it’s another example of how budget air travel could get even worse. It is not the first time the airline industry has attempted to squeeze even more people into economy class. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has previously showed interest in “standing seats” as a way to lower plane ticket prices.

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