Thought economy class couldn’t get any worse? The horrifying hexagonal seating that means you FACE other passengers

  • Zodiac Seats have patented plans for planes with backward-facing seats
  • Flyers would face each other in alternating forward and backward chairs
  • It's hoped the designs will enable increased passenger numbers on board  

By Becky Pemberton For Mailonline

Published: 08:15 EST, 9 July 2015 | Updated: 12:38 EST, 9 July 2015

Economy class may be cramped, but at least passengers can lose themselves in a book or a film if they’re not feeling sociable.

But those days may be numbered if a bizarre new hexagonal seating design is adopted, which would mean passengers facing each other.

A patent has just been filed by UK-based seat manufacturer Zodiac Seats for a new 'Economy Class Cabin Hexagon' which consists of alternate forward and backward facing seats. 

A patent has just been filed by Zodiac Seats for a new 'Economy Class Cabin Hexagon' which consists of alternating forward and backward facing seats

A patent has just been filed by Zodiac Seats for a new 'Economy Class Cabin Hexagon' which consists of alternating forward and backward facing seats

The patent designs for the slotted seating were published last month, following an application in December of last year 

The patent designs for the slotted seating were published last month, following an application in December of last year 

TVs would be positioned on the backs of the seat in front, but there would also be two passengers facing you

TVs would be positioned on the backs of the seat in front, but there would also be two passengers facing you

The patent designs for the slotted seating were published last month, following an application in December of last year. 

Zodiac Seat's plans state that the aim of the unconventional seating arrangement is to optimise the number of passengers transported on a flight. 

Crucially, televisions will still be available on the backs of the seats opposite, along with trays. 

The patent says the new configuration will help to reduce the likelihood of the arms of passengers in adjacent seats from interfering with each other. 

The designs hope to maximise the shoulder area, whilst tessellating in as many passengers as possible 

The designs hope to maximise the shoulder area, whilst tessellating in as many passengers as possible 

The designs aim to achieve this without this inhibiting the space available to flyers in the shoulder area
The designs aim to achieve this without this inhibiting the space available to flyers in the shoulder area

The designs aim to achieve this without this inhibiting the space available to flyers in the shoulder area 

The foldable trays, when down, will be designed to not infringe upon the industry standard measurement for an aisle space. 

Zodiac Seats is one of the largest manufacturers of aircraft passenger seats in the airline industry.

They supply products to meet the needs of airline companies and helicopters manufacturers.

Earlier Airbus announced that it is to introduce an extra seat to each row of its Airbus A380 model, squeezing yet more passengers onto each plane.

From 2017 it is planned there will be 11 seats incorporated into the same space as the current 10 are placed, and a fourth class introduced in response to the addition.

The backs of seats would include tables, but would still have to comply with industry standards for an aisle space for all walking past on the row

The backs of seats would include tables, but would still have to comply with industry standards for an aisle space for all walking past on the row

In certain embodiments, no arm rest would be provided used, as the diagram shows
In certain embodiments, no arm rest would be provided used, as the diagrams show

In certain embodiments, no arm rest would be provided used, as the diagrams from the patent application show

The patent designs for the slotted seating were published last month, following an application in December of last year

The patent designs for the slotted seating were published last month, following an application in December of last year

The new centre seat will change the current configuration from 3-4-3 to become a 3-5-3 set up.

Currently the company uses First, Business and Economy class, but there will soon be the addition of 'budget economy', branded as Choice Economy.

Senior Vice President of Marketing for Airbus Christopher Emerson, told trade publication Leeham News and Comment: 'Ninety per cent of world travellers are economy but not all are homogeneous.

'We want to give a choice to the 90 per cent of the economy passengers. They are going to be the driver of the growth, the doubling of growth in the next 15 years.' 

Tight squeeze! Airbus are set to cram an extra seat into their Airbus 380 in the middle section. The change is due to come into place in 2017

Tight squeeze! Airbus are set to cram an extra seat into their Airbus 380 in the middle section. The change is due to come into place in 2017

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