First, business, economy… and now standing room only?? Straphangers of the world, Airbus wants to bring the subway to the skies.

Airbus has been quietly pitching the standing-room-only option to Asian carriers, though none have agreed to it yet. Passengers in the standing section would be propped against a padded backboard, held in place with a harness, according to experts who have seen a proposal.

Standing room only, strapped to a board?? Sweet. I’ve always wanted that Hannibal Lecter feel during air travel. (”Hannibal Class” ?) And good luck getting overhead bin space with more people crammed in. Where do people stand when they’re unstrapped? Do they rove about the cabin, hovering in the aisles?? And can you use your upgrades to move from Hannibal to Economy?

Way to go, Airbus. Encourage the race to the bottom.

I’m not sure about European rules, but for those thinking this couldn’t happen in the US…

There is no legal barrier to installing standing-room seats on an American airliner. The Federal Aviation Administration does not mandate that a passenger be in a sitting position for takeoffs and landings; only that the passenger be secured. Seating must comply only with the agency’s rules on the width of aisles and the ability to evacuate quickly in an emergency.

Will we see this really happen? I have my doubts, but who knows. I’ll stick to Economy Plus for now.

(images: Irina / Riri, Movieforum)