News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Plane flights could get even more cramped if a proposed seating arrangement from Airbus gets the green light.

The aerospace manufacturer has reportedly filed a patent for a dramatic, split-level cabin that could see customers stacked on top of each other.

According to the designers, the higher seats would be able to recline into a lying-down position.

(Image: United States Patent and Trademark Office) (Image: United States Patent and Trademark Office) (Image: Air Live)

There would be stairs or a ladder for passengers to climb up to the higher level.

It would also mean Airbus could fit even more passengers into a wide-body plane which currently seats six people in a line across the aircraft.

Airlines, in turn, could then sell even more tickets.

It's unclear whether this would have an effect on the storage bins currently above the seats.

poll loading Do you find modern planes too cramped? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR YES NO

The new seating arrangement was created by Airbus' designers in Germany and filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

"In modern means of transport, in particular in aircraft, it is very important from an economic point of view to make optimum use of the available space in a passenger cabin," Airbus wrote in the patent filing.

The company maintains that even with the additional seats, it will be able to maintain a "high level of comfort".

Airbus proposes that it could put the new seats in the business class cabin, where there are no overhead storage bins.

Whether or not it will actually make it into real-life aircrafts remains to be seen.

Airbus have form when it comes to being inventive with design - check out their Beluga cargo plane here.

And then once these mega-planes are up in the sky, you have to get them down on terra firma once again. Hats off to the pilot of this Airbus, who managed to find the runway despite very stormy conditions.