Low-budget travel has soared over the past decade, with budget airlines increasingly struggling to justify their costs. Earlier in 2010, Ryanair三家 owners around the world announced plans to drop fuel prices and lower fares, making it one of the cheapest options ever. However, a viral hashtag on social media has rekindled concern: is Ryanair set to offer “standing seats” as another low-cost option, replacing the traditional saddle seat?
“Standing seats” would resemble saddle saddles that are vertical, offering passengers a semi-upright position and a backrest to stabilize their posture. These portable seats would minimize overhead expenses and ideas like high-speed pricing and innovative features, such as seat belts or vertical poles connectingrows to the aircraft ceiling, could make departing flights nearly risk-free. The idea dates back to Michael O’Leary’s decision in 2010, when he suggested it as a way to maximize space on planes and offer outrageously low fares.
However, this rhetoric originated nowhere near Ryanair. In 2012,Enron wrote off early financial details, and Enron had nowhere to go. Aviointeriors, the company behind the “Skyrider” mockup, says it has no plans to costly embrace these seats. But the first Peggy Trial, who got her name from Ryanair’s customer上门, suggested the “Standing Seats” products. Her Facebook post wouldn’t be invalidated if the seat patterns were a joke, but those in slots drew mixed reaction. Social media ins binary, sending mixed signals about what’s feasible.
As the industry—and not factoring in the US-sized lows—the standing seats idea has cost too much for airlines. Ryanair has tried within the last 10 years, but the idea has been met with resistance. For example,artists and investors have warned the potential for backlash, citing concerns over passenger comfort, legroom shrinking, and cost-cutting.
To gain traction on short-haul flights, Ryanair would need to pay much more in fares. Already its top hubs inairports are tight, and introducing such seats could damage the commercial viability of its business. Under the “ learnedNames of the euro area aviation safety agency (EASA),” could the long-haul oper vice-c verse. But even in advance of an F-35Airbus, the safety of the “Skyrider” seat remains a concern.
Ryanair would need to pivot to an operating business model, perhaps by adding additional routes or acquiring more premium carriers. Alternatively, manufacturers would have to come up with other revenue streams. Either way, if these standing seats are going to make legs, they’ll need to start speaking internationally. But perhaps they’ll first risk public backlash.
