Sky Saddles

Here’s a prototype of the “seating” that may be used by airlines that hope to offer “standing-room” tickets, as I’ve mentioned here before.

The new airplane seat, to be unveiled next week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas conference in Long Beach, would give passengers an experience akin to riding horseback. They’d sit at an angle with no more than 23 inches between their perch and the seat in front of them — a design that could appeal to low-cost airlines that have floated the idea of offering passengers standing-room tickets on short flights.

Short-haul European carrier Ryanair is awaiting permission for standing-room flying and reportedly some U.S. airlines have also expressed interest in the seats.