RIDING THE BENCH

Posted on 03/02/2016

This month Airbus created a solution to the shrinking airline seat dilemma.  Their idea is for a ‘reconfigurable bench seat’ which can be adjusted according the size and number of passengers using the space. The aircraft manufacturer applied for a patent to create new seating that can be incorporated into some rows of a cabin.

The bench would allow larger passengers to sit comfortably, but it can also be configured to allow a family of four to sit together.  People with mobility issues would be better accommodated.Sven Taubert and Florian Schmidt of Airbus have applied for a patent to protect their invention that has detachable seat belts and optional fold down arm rests.Since the nineties, cabin seating has become 5 cm (2”) smaller and passengers have become larger on average.  That 3.16 kg (7 lbs) more for women and 4.5 kg (10 lbs) more for men.