Will Stand-Up Only Seats Really Take Off on Ryanair, EasyJet & More? Here’s the Truth

'This is pitiful. Handle people with dignity.'

This is just one of the hundreds of comments on an Instagram a post stating that soon, low-cost airlines will introduce stand-up only airplane seating.

The outrage is justified. With stringent luggage rules , narrow seats, and hidden fees, flying The budget is already quite like an endurance test.

And thanks to these new saddle-shaped seats, economy travel might become even more unpleasant.

Reports indicate that the seats have now fulfilled all regulatory standards and successfully completed safety testing. However, will these seats actually be featured in our upcoming flights?

Here’s everything we know so far.

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What is a standing-only plane seat?

Designed by Italian company Aviointeriors, the standing seats look similar to a horse saddle or rollercoaster ride.

They’re attached to the floor and ceiling by a pole, and have a seat pitch (that’s the distance between the seat and the one in front) of just 23 inches. To compare, Ryanair ’s average seat pitch is 30 inches.

Occupying reduced area, Aviointeriors assert that you could accommodate up to 20% additional travelers on brief journeys of two hours or shorter duration.

Numerous individuals have voiced their distaste regarding the seating arrangements. An irate commentator penned, "These corporations couldn't care less about you!" Meanwhile, someone else opined that such practices ought to be 'prohibited'.

However, these seats aren't actually new; they made their debut at the Aircraft Interiors Expo way back in 2010, followed by an enhanced version being showcased again at the same event in 2018.

By 2025, it's said that the Skyrider 2.0 has received approval for travel.

Could we witness stand-up only seating options with budget airlines in the UK?

In 2012, Michael O'Leary, who was the CEO of Ryanair at the time, faced criticism after suggesting he might introduce standing-room only sections on flights. He proposed adding ten rows of stand-up spaces that could potentially reduce fares to just £1.

However, leap ahead to 2025 when a representative from Ryanair stated that passengers don’t need to worry. When asked if the Irish carrier was set to launch standing-only seats they responded: ‘Ryanair has no plans to do so.’

Wizz Air also responded to ‘s query saying: ‘We can confirm that Wizz Air has no plans to introduce standing-only seats.’

Meanwhile, easyJet declined to comment on the introduction of standing-only seats, but there are currently no public plans which suggest we’ll be seeing them on its planes any time soon.

also reached out to Jet2 , who are yet to respond.

What changes have we seen in economy plane cabins?

Perhaps the biggest change we’ve seen isn’t seating, but rather overhead lockers.

As more airlines charge for checked baggage, many passengers opt for hand luggage , which tends to be either free or less expensive. However, this frequently results in a frantic scramble to get onboard, where passengers push against each other trying to find space for their luggage.

Fortunately, Airbus, the top producer of commercial aircraft in the UK and Europe , had a solution.

In 2024, it was announced that they would be modifying some of their aircraft to feature the updated Airspace L bins.

These new bins are over half again the size of the former A320 bins, providing 60% additional capacity, which accommodates up to three extra bags per compartment. The key point is that the luggage is stored upright rather than flat.

Lufthansa was the initial airline to get 38 of these bins in January 2025. Other major European carriers like Iberia and Swiss have announced their plans to adopt the new storage units as well.

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