Airbus/US Patent and Trademark Office

Cramped seating arrangements on economy flights could get significantly worse if Airbus' latest design ever becomes a reality. A patent filed by the plane manufacturer envisions stacking passengers on top of one another -- a bit like blocks in a game of Tetris.

Airbus/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 application.

Airbus/US Patent and Trademark Office

The design -- which "still provides a high level of comfort for the passengers" -- involves two levels of passengers in a standard aircraft cabin, with a "mezzanine seating area" replacing hand luggage overhead lockers.

Airbus imagines this arrangement would be "suitable" for business class as the seats could recline as much as 180 degrees.


A similar tiered approach to air travel was conceived by factorydesign and claims to allow for 30 percent more passengers. And if Airbus' concept turns out to look as comfortable as factorydesign's Air Lair, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

Airbus has previously patented seats with built in VR helmets to help passengers escape their cramped confines at 33,000 feet.

Other unusual aeroplane seating plans include another Airbus patent for "motorcycle-type saddles," and Zodiac Aerospace's concept design of alternate forward and backward facing seats in a honeycomb-like arrangement.