Stand-up airline seats-as little as £5 per passenger

An aircraft interior design company has released the first images of controversial new 'stand-up' plane seats.

Italian firm Avioninteriors, which is developing the SkyRider seat, claims it will offer both cheaper fare options and more capacity on board, reports Travolution.

The designs were released just months after Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said that he planned to introduce standing room on his flights, with tickets selling for as little as £5 per passenger.

A representative for the company producing the seat said: “The SkyRider is intended as a new basic class. The passenger’s seating position is similar to that of a touring motor-scooter rider.

“This posture permits that the overall longitudinal space occupied by the seat with the seated passenger is far less than that of a conventional, very high density 28-inch economy class seat.”

It also claims that the new 23-inch seats will allow airlines to increase passenger numbers on board.

Air safety regulator the CAA is expected to turn down any proposals to introduce the 'standing seats' on UK airlines.

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By Paul Johnston