Low-Cost Airlines to launch standing-only seats in 2026
By Farah Mokrani • Updated: 28 May 2025 • 12:26 • 2 minutes read
Skyrider 2.0 saddle-style standing-only seats ready for their 2026 debut on Europe’s low-cost airlines. Credit : x - @williamlegate
If you’ve ever grumbled about sky-high air fares, get ready for a whole new level of frugality, plus a bit of leg work.
According to the Daily Mail, a handful of Europe’s low-cost airlines plan, from 2026, to swap out some economy seats for Skyrider 2.0, a half-standing, saddle-style perch that promises rock-bottom ticket prices. Sounds bonkers? You’re not alone.
Skyrider 2.0 standing seats explained: The future of Low-cost airline travel
Imagine balancing on a padded bicycle saddle, only this one is strapped to the cabin floor and ceiling, and you’re cruising at 35,000 feet. That’s pretty much the gist of Skyrider 2.0, dreamed up by Italian outfit Aviointeriors back in 2018. Here’s the lowdown:
- Lean, not lounge: You’ll rest at about a 45° angle, weight on your legs and core muscles—think of it as a mini workout.
- Feather-light build: Each perch is roughly half the weight of a regular seat, cutting down on fuel burn.
- Belted in: Yes, there’s a seatbelt- no free-falling mid-turbulence.
By shaving off bulk and tightening up the space between rows, airlines reckon they can cram in up to 20% more passengers on hops lasting two hours or less.
Why Low-cost airlines are embracing skyrider 2.0 standing seats
Budget carriers love nothing more than squeezing pennies -and seats- wherever they can. Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary has been banging on about standing “berths” since 2012. His idea? Ten rows of Skyrider seats up front, then a handful of standard stools behind.
What’s in it for them?
- Ultra-low fares: Rumours suggest you could grab a one-way ticket for as little as €1–€5.
- Bigger cabins: More bodies per flight mean fatter profit margins.
- Quicker turnarounds: Lighter seats, fewer parts, less cleaning—so planes spend more time in the air.
Other airlines from Spain to Eastern Europe are eyeing the concept, too. If you’ve got a tight schedule and a tighter budget, a standing ticket might just be the ticket.
Will passengers actually board?
Time for the million-euro question: would you? Online chatter is a proper mix. Some think it’s ingenious, others reckon it’s a step too far:
“I love a deal, but I’ll pass on leg day at 40,000 feet.”
“£3 to Paris ( €3.45) ? Tempting… if only I could recline.”
Pros and cons, laid bare:
- Pros: Cheapest flights in yonks; perfect for a quick city hop; bragging rights (“I stood on a plane!”).
- Cons: No lying back; limited snoozing; might feel like cattle herding if you’re tall.
Aviointeriors insists Skyrider seats passed every safety test—with rapid-exit drills and all—so don’t panic about emergencies. And if you really crave a full-blown seat, standard tickets will still be on sale (at a slightly higher price, naturally).
Skyrider 2.0 standing seats: Passing fad or future of low cost Air travel?
Let’s be honest: you’re unlikely to see this on a red-eye to New York anytime soon. But for quick runs—say, Madrid to Lisbon or Manchester to Edinburgh—these lean-in perches could carve out a niche. Airlines get to splash headlines with ‘€1 flights!’, and penny-pinchers get their fix of adventure (and leg-burn).
So when you’re booking that next Euro-city break in 2026, watch for the ‘Lean Option’ tick box. If you’re up for a bit of novelty—and don’t mind standing—you could snag a jaw-dropping fare. And if it turns out to be more “ouch” than “wow”, you’ll know to stick with the trusty economy seat next time (for a few quid extra, of course).
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Farah Mokrani
Farah is a journalist and content writer with over a decade of experience in both digital and print media. Originally from Tunisia and now based in Spain, she has covered current affairs, investigative reports, and long-form features for a range of international publications. At Euro Weekly News, Farah brings a global perspective to her reporting, contributing news and analysis informed by her editorial background and passion for clear, accurate storytelling.
Comments
Raj bose
21 May 2025 • 23:26Pretty sur George Orwell covered this
Albert Evans
21 May 2025 • 23:52Have these seats actually been certified by EASA or any other authorities, no is the answer you’ll find. Why because, you’re missing one very large ‘elephant in the room’ although low cost airlines might like to cram in even more seats, the evacuation rules prevent them from doing so, as you would never be able to meet the time limits for evacuation if you cram even more passengers on a narrow body aircraft. The other point you are missing is that low cost carriers like all their aircraft to be of the same standard configuration with regard to seats so they can be used on any route on the network, so madness to put in a configuration that can only be used on certain routes.
Bruno Travi
22 May 2025 • 04:05I assume that for a few extra Pennie’s a physical therapy will be available at the airport waiting for you. Paramedics may also be handy at the airport in case you collapse during flight
Barry whitford
22 May 2025 • 07:32Skyrider seats is a great idea and look forward to trying them,I think it will be slow to start but price of flights will drop,wizz and ryanair will be great airlines to try it
Anon
22 May 2025 • 09:05No it’s not
Tod
22 May 2025 • 15:46Just another way for Wizz and Ryanair to charge more for normal seats + luggage, current prices will be for these new seats. There will be no price reduction. Terrible idea. Hopefully this idea gets buried.
Alex
23 May 2025 • 18:49Agree. The only people who like the idea are either incredibly stupid or some greedy shareholders lowlifes…
James
22 May 2025 • 08:45No room for a bag under the seat… so the airline will probably charge you to stow your bag in the overhead locker. Not great is it.
Saeed
22 May 2025 • 16:19There will be no overhead bin since passengers will be standing.
Tony
22 May 2025 • 09:08We stand on trains and buses. Sometimes for quite long periods and nothing to rest against. Sounds a good idea. But mainly for younger travellers
Tony
22 May 2025 • 20:30I’m still waiting for the push the plain to the runway tickets… Why waste fuel when I have a strong back?
Syd Avery
22 May 2025 • 09:11More pax, more crew required. 1 crew member for so many pax, can’t remember the ratio, sorry. Also evacuation time in the event of an incident. Any publicity like this puts the airline name at the front of customers’ mind. This crops up every so often, what happens when sensible people don’t book these seats, price of tickets go up. not sure there would be a gret difference in fuel burn.
Jon
23 May 2025 • 07:15I think it’s one crew member for every 50 pax seats or it used to be anyway
Keith
22 May 2025 • 09:19So it says :
Feather-light build: Each perch is roughly half the weight of a regular seat, cutting down on fuel burn.
Then :
20% more passengers on hops lasting two hours or less
Doesn’t that out weigh the difference in fuel burn ??
M S
23 May 2025 • 07:01How do you strap the children and babies on this?
William
22 May 2025 • 09:28Ryanair already has problems trying to keep drunk passengers seated. These should be good if fitted with a straight jacket. What about leg length. Short and tall passengers using same fitted seats. Does a 6ft person stand with ease for an hour, and a 5ft or less just dangle there.
Gerald
22 May 2025 • 09:37I already refuse to travel in Ryan Air, I guess there will be a few more getting the excluded carrier staus soon. Whats next racks in the hold. What industry do you know of that treats its customers with so much disdain. Livestock travel better, some might say they should but that’s not the point. This whole idea is so outrageous I gad to check my calendar to see if I missed April 1st
Anne
22 May 2025 • 23:17It’s not disdain. It’s a choice. You can still book your business class to the same destination. Others will Love the chance to fly somewhere they normally can’t afford to go.
RH
24 May 2025 • 10:52I absolutely applaud your positivity! I just don’t believe this will translate to cheaper flights.
Marina
23 May 2025 • 08:19Horrible idea. In the beginning there might be people who will want to try it out, and there will be medical issues. Most people will want normal seats, so their prices will go up sky high, as if it is a luxury to sit. This has great potential to kill air travel.
Carie
23 May 2025 • 08:50It’s like alway. It’ll start off as the cheap option then once they see it’s being accepted it’ll become the norm and the prices will go back to what they are now for the norm.
Davis
22 May 2025 • 09:373-4 star feedback—Love the plan,but think about others. Some passengers will not be comfortable,I guess.
John
22 May 2025 • 10:03At the very least, this will eliminate the crude, annoying people who want to remove their shoes and socks, or drape their limbs over the arm of the seat ahead.
Lydia Bruinsma
23 May 2025 • 08:12Yes!😉
Rob
22 May 2025 • 10:16Always looking to not pay but hasn’t humanity got brains?
You have it with electric cars ,people bought them coz they where not liable to pay road tax and now what has happened?
As soon as alot turned to electric the put road tax on them
This is nothing different..
Wakey wakey people.
Don’t become fools.
When you eat at home don’t we sit on chairs?
Dont open this can of worms
KEL SPIRIT
22 May 2025 • 16:01IMAGINE IF THEY TRIED THIS WITH
ROAD VEHICLES
!
Ali
22 May 2025 • 20:55Brilliantly put
Dennis James
22 May 2025 • 10:54What about children or the disabled?
Scott
22 May 2025 • 17:59Was just thinking that myself
Dave
23 May 2025 • 11:37Exactly, I am disabled. Will I be offered a standard seat at the same price as a standing seat? If not, I see plenty of lawsuits ahead!
Ordinary Joe
22 May 2025 • 12:24You could stand on a train but not on a plane because of the difference in speed of travel.
None of the proposed perches or roosts are suspected of being capable of 16G restraint demanded of present aircraft seats.
Nor would the proposed 20 percent increase in passenger numbers onboard meet emergency exit time requirements without extra doors cut into the fuselage.
Chris
22 May 2025 • 12:45How much you wanna bet in 5 years these seats will be just as expensive as economy seats, and economy seats will be charged with an extra fee as an upgrade…
Tod
22 May 2025 • 15:51I think you are absolutely wright
Lydia Bruinsma
23 May 2025 • 08:09I say we all stay home!
Joseph
24 May 2025 • 07:21So cool. I will be able to fly during Christmas or during school midterm for 1€. Unlike current 750€ each way. It is never in my mind that airlines will get rid of seats, make standing travel the rule and then increase prices dramatically because of new environmental or safety concerns. We know your tactics to steal out rights.
Anna 0’leary
22 May 2025 • 13:03Has anyone thought about DVT?
KEL SPIRIT
22 May 2025 • 13:24AND THEN FOR THE DISTANT FUTURE …
NO CHAIRS AT ALL
PACK PLANE FULL OF STANDING HUMANS
NO SEATBELTS NEEDED
OH HOW I AM GLAD I DONT FLY
Tesh
22 May 2025 • 13:32How safe is the new seat?
Mickey dangle
22 May 2025 • 14:26If theres passengers with no lower limbs could they just hang them up on a peg in nice rows ?
KEL SPIRIT
22 May 2025 • 16:03O M G
!
Vivi
22 May 2025 • 16:03Their plan: make us get used to it then slowly raising prices. In 20 years we will be, “ remember when we had seats on airplanes?”
ALI
22 May 2025 • 20:56🤣🤣🤣🤣 Don’t put ideas in their heads
Lydia Bruinsma
23 May 2025 • 08:10I say we all stay home!
Noel Kirwan
22 May 2025 • 15:27Absolute nonsense. Some people will believe any S*it. It’s never going to happen
Nicola collins
22 May 2025 • 15:28That’s no good for disabled people elderly or babies on flight it’s disgusting that disabled people and elderly will be forced to play more its a complete joke
Jack Smith
22 May 2025 • 17:11Disabled people aren’t paying more. People just have the choice to pay less, for a different service. Think of it being a little like the difference between riding a car or a motorbike.
Stef
22 May 2025 • 23:51What an intelligent comment. Like anything else after first introduced, prices will go up to “normal” and “normal” will be a luxury. Gold fish memory much.
Dave
23 May 2025 • 11:38What an absurd, ableist comment. If you don’t have a clue about disability, don’t write stupid comments that are you look extremely silly!
Matt
22 May 2025 • 16:06They don’t have to pay more, they pay the same as they’re paying now.
Celso Lopez
22 May 2025 • 16:15No, thanks
Celso Lopez
22 May 2025 • 16:19Next thing will be a discccounted fare if you serve the drinks and even more discounted of you agree to fly the plane 🤣
Nik
22 May 2025 • 17:13An even better idea is to pack bodies close to each other without seats at all, like sardines stacked vertically. Perfectly safe, what was the last time sardines had an accident inside a tin?
Maria
23 May 2025 • 12:51The sardins they are all dead.
Mjef
22 May 2025 • 17:29No thanks.
Colin Burnell
22 May 2025 • 17:50Actually this might work for those of us who don’t have child size legs; nobody in the seat in front jamming the back of their seat into your knees, and then complaining to the crew that they can’t recline because you don’t fit between castle class seats.
Sh
22 May 2025 • 17:56They will see their fair share if people fainting…
James
22 May 2025 • 18:19What about just packing the cattle class into containers, no need for seats at all if you pack them tight enough.
Race to the bottom!
Then a 40 euro Uber into town.
Makes perfect sense !
Paul David
22 May 2025 • 18:22Just when you thought air travel couldn’t get any worse! Thanks guys I’ll give it a miss.
Big Bob
22 May 2025 • 19:47As a tall person standing for a couple of hours would be much better than folding my legs into the regular seats. Probably less chance of being sandwiched between two sweaty fatties as well given how aghast some people seem to be at the prospect of standing for a relatively short period.
Steve Harrington
22 May 2025 • 20:43This is an obvious answer to get cheaper flights. Standing for 2 hours is nothing for catering and shop staff, plus football crowds etc, this will be a doddle. I had to stand and not even lean for 9 hour shifts back in the 70’s. Some train services in the UK can mean standing for over an hour getting in and out of London! Too many people are pampered nowadays! If you have the money , ok, but others are not so fortunate or privileged. I’m talking as someone from having taken busines class in the past and been subject to standing for 6 hours in a bus in Asia with goats and chickens taking the seats! Another thing, would you prefer to be in a standing position, if there was a flight problem, rather than being in the window seat with some fat bastard stopping you getting off blocking the aisle? Case proved.
Red_robbo
22 May 2025 • 21:05These seats have NOT been given approval by the regulatory authorities. The manufactures claim they have passed safety checks, but whose checks? Certainly not the ones that matter….
Daniel – KADS
22 May 2025 • 22:20I would prolly try this. My only time flying ryanair from BCN to TFN most of the people where stadning the whole 3 hrs anyway becuase the seat padding was so thin it hurt your back. So why pay 50 bucks tk stand when you ckuld pay less than 5 bucks.
Abde
22 May 2025 • 22:33For real guys ? I thought this is an old April fools joke
Othman LAM
22 May 2025 • 23:06What about Child , infant or seniors ? .It seems this category of passengers will have no chance on this configuration.
Rickyboy
22 May 2025 • 23:14It would be better to put in children’s roundabouts with seats on them, so when the plane turns the roundabout will move… it will make it more fun ! Also you will have room under your seat to put your luggage. Who knows som people may pay extra for a roundabout plane? I’m sure kids would love it.😜
Alastair Brand
22 May 2025 • 23:43Next step.. load every passenger into large-sized drawers, stacked into floor-to- ceiling cabinets. Just think how much meat… Sorry, I meant, how many passengers you could stack in an airline cabin.
Victoria
23 May 2025 • 00:00Nah. Nope. Not happening.. my partner recently got a return flight to Croatia for £36. SEATED. Are we really that hard up that you’d wanna STAND on a plane? Even for a 2hr.30min journey to Benidorm? After you’ve stood in the airport line for an hour to board early (presuming!!! You aren’t delayed either. And you wanna stand? I promise you the wave of regret that will wash over you at 2am after you’ve been delayed, waited stood up in a hot, steel stairwell cos their too cheap to put an electric walk way up to the plane door- you will hate it. Seated. always!
C booth
23 May 2025 • 00:43I’m just imagining the injuries caused by a hard landing
John
23 May 2025 • 00:54In addition to jet lag, we can now add another flying fatigue: jet leg
Capt.Tom
23 May 2025 • 01:58I can’t imagine any circumstance that I would sit in one of those seats the same of your dollars. Now if they put bunk beds in that would be a different story.
John
23 May 2025 • 02:25How are you people happy about this blatant abuse and unnecessary greed.
You are either plants from the airlines or have masochistic tendencies
Faraz
23 May 2025 • 04:52Why seats remove them and let the passengers seat down lol if the traveling time is 1 hour it is fine but if it is more then it people might get tired lol and what about the senior citizens will they able to lean or stand??
Faraz
23 May 2025 • 04:53Why seats remove them and let the passengers seat down lol if the traveling time is 1 hour it is fine lol
Edvaldo Dortas Carvalho
23 May 2025 • 05:46Airlines always find ways to lure people with cheap flights, only to increase prices later. Like low-cost carriers, you pay less for short distances but often face delays and poor service. There’s little control over how airlines treat passengers—they charge extra for everything, from seat selection to food. At airports, we deal with disorganized queues and bus rides to planes. There should be a government authority to oversee and regulate airline services.
Dawn
23 May 2025 • 07:26I prefer to stand because of my risk for DVT (deep vein thrombosis). I often feel bad about having to disturb other passengers to walk to the bathroom or move around the plane. This situation is challenging for me. I’ve never been able to sleep on a plane, even on a red-eye flight to New York.
Max
23 May 2025 • 07:34Are they saying the logic being that 20% extra passengers equals at 5bucks a passenger is worth the extra weight (so fuel) and extra baggage? So if a hundred person flight that is worth let’s say $50,000 at $500 a ticket. Is now a 120 person flight worth $50,100 (because 20% extra capacity paying 5 bucks, a ticket) …. How do the numbers add up? if you must include the personnel to board them, perhaps an extra flight attendant for the flight, the labour time to process additional baggage and the time for security. The only incentive is to introduce this as cheap alternative, that will THEN become a regular priced fixture.. this will be coach, coach will be second, second will be first. Then they can charge for an Ultra first Class, which was just the original first class.
I have no qualms about standing. I have no qualms about an idea such as this. I am skeptical it will remain, as presented. And confused as to how this would become a profitable practice.. I doubt it’s being done out of a sense of morals or charity.
Martin
23 May 2025 • 08:04I think the issue comes because they won’t pass on the savings to customers or might at the start. I think the boss of Ryan Air is one of the worst people on the planet. He clearly doesn’t respect his passengers or his staff. Do you really not see this as a penny pinching exercise by oleary!
Ken
23 May 2025 • 08:21Just like moving cattle. Next step is poke the cattle with a cattle prod to get them on and off quickly. The first bit of heavy turbulence,which is invisible to radar, will leave dozens with broken ankles and whiplash.
frequentflyer99
23 May 2025 • 08:29Another benefit here is, that the legroom for the full paying passengers will be larger again. Reason: The passenger capacity of airplanes is not only a question of legroom, but mainly of weight. The more passengers can be squeezed to the absolute minimum, the more legroom is available for the valuable rest! Perfect!
Linus
23 May 2025 • 08:48These arent knobs to prevent the homeless from sleeping on a park bench.
Its the one place this squeezing costs makes sense (guessing youve heard of co2 emissions an all that latest science)
People suddenly go pseudomarxist against lowcost airlines? What ? comfort is your human right while FLYING through the air on an explosion of oil ?
Red_robbo
23 May 2025 • 08:55Despite what the article implies, this seat does NOT have approval from the regulatory bodies. It would need to pass many safety checks before being certified, and this has NOT happened. In my opinion, it’s not likely to happen, either.
Purely a proposal by the manufacturer to put the idea out there!
Longlegfrequentflyer
23 May 2025 • 08:57As a very tall person, for short city hopper flights. I can finally fly again without having to pay ridiculous amounts for being tall. Since people don’t want to aknowledge the tall people issues in flights. This is poetic justice.
Barry O’Brien
23 May 2025 • 09:39This is your captain speaking, BRACE FOR IMPACT! Apologies to our standing only passengers, we wish you the best of luck!
Dave walker
23 May 2025 • 11:47From the world beating company who brought you small boat travel we now give you standing room flights for the deserving family.
Donald MacDiarmid
23 May 2025 • 12:26How does an enormously overweight person fit into that tight space and there are millions of them. Better idea is to weigh them with their luggage!
Maria
23 May 2025 • 12:37Now you know what it like to send the lorries packed with livestock to the slaughter house with no room for anyone to move.
Derek
23 May 2025 • 13:04If you stand then there is no room for overhead lockers so there will be nowhere to stow luggage for these passengers. They will have to pay to check it in which will mean additional charges not payable by carry on seated passengers.
Derek J Wood
23 May 2025 • 17:19Maybe just tie ropes down the length of the cabin. Passengers can dangle their arms over the top of the rope. Nothing like Victorian values. Ryanair could be renamed as Dosshouse Airlines.
Peter K
23 May 2025 • 19:22Not sure if it will be actually implemented . But if it will be , then there is only ONE ceratinty : In a short time 3-4 years the prices will catch up to the current prices , while normal seats will get prohibitively expensive .
Christopher Alman
24 May 2025 • 02:15This was a joke in the comedy series Come Fly With Me by David Walliams and Matt Lucas.
It’s a testament to their comedy genius is might actually become reality.
You couldn’t make it up! Actually apparently you can. It’s completely obsururd.🤣
Christopher Alman
24 May 2025 • 02:23Next you’ll be telling us budget airlines will be issuing all passengers with a plastic one use only wings and being told to jump over the city of their choice 🤪🤣😂🤣
Christopher Alman
24 May 2025 • 02:25Matt Lucas and David Walliams were spot on in Come Fly With Me. 🤣
Christopher Alman
24 May 2025 • 02:32It’s still probably cheaper to shrinkwrap yourself and post yourself to your desired destination 🤪
Andy
24 May 2025 • 07:59Prefer to stand on flights these days as economy seats so uncomfortable. I try not to fly now unless business class being paid for by others. Flying used to be fun but now its just horrific, delays, bad staff, strikes…..feel sorry for the next generation of travellers.
Richard M Schiller
24 May 2025 • 20:31do they have the subway bus ropes from the ceiling?
John smith
24 May 2025 • 09:43No, airlines are not launching standing seats. This is a social media hoax and the clueless “journalist” who wrote this article just didn’t bother to do any research. Aviointeriors did a standing seat concept in 2012. It went nowhere. That’s it. End of. No, airlines are not introducing it in 2026. No. Nonsense.
Richard M Schiller
24 May 2025 • 20:30i think theyre going on the new 6 flags Blue Origin ride
Darren
24 May 2025 • 10:59I’ll avoid them like the plague. Cost savings will just be added to profits rather than off the price of tickets!
Richard M Schiller
24 May 2025 • 20:29actually i thought a stand up seat was a gay man who puts his hand palms down on the ground
Comments are closed.