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Saddle up

Airbus patents new "moped-style" aeroplane seats

They look really, really uncomfortable.

Airbus-files-airplane-patent_dezeen_ss

FRENCH AVIATION GIANT Airbus has filed a patent that would see no-frills become even more uncomfortable.

Not content with non-reclining chairs and limited leg-room, the French manufacturer has proposed a new system that would see short-haul planes fitted with more seats. The extra seats would be added by adding a seating system that has “reduced bulk”, appearing to look something like a moped seat.

That means taking the cushions out and mounting the seats on a pole. The patent filing says that the plan would allow Airbus increase the number of people on short-haul flights. Thankfully, they say that it can only last a couple of hours.

“In effect, to increase the number of cabin seats, the space allotted to each passenger must be reduced.

“However, this reduced comfort remains tolerable for the passengers in as much as the flight lasts only one or a few hours.”

However, a spokesperson for the company told The Telegraph that it is “unlikely” that you’ll ever have to sit on one.

“We file hundreds of patents each year and it’s all about protecting ideas,” he said. “We are actually pushing airlines for an 18-inch seat width to come as standard on long haul flights – some aircraft have only 16.7 inches.”

Read: It may look like a near-miss, but this pilot did exactly what he was supposed to do

Read: N America-Europe flights through Irish airspace beat 2008 peak

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