PARIS (Agencies): Airbus has announced it is exploring early-stage concepts for a double-level airplane seat design in collaboration with aviation start-up Chaise Longue. The innovative seat design, initially developed by Chaise Longue CEO Alejandro Núñez Vicente, aims to revolutionize in-flight seating arrangements.
Núñez Vicente expressed his gratitude towards Airbus for recognizing the potential of two-level seating. “Airbus sees the true potential of two-level seating,” he told CNN Travel. An Airbus representative confirmed the collaboration, stating that “Chaise Longue is exploring some early stage concepts with Airbus on two-level seating solutions for Airbus commercial aircraft.”
The design concept involves removing the overhead cabin to create two levels of seats within a single aircraft cabin. Travelers would have the option to book either the top or bottom row, with the lower level offering extra legroom and the top level providing larger recline angles and leg-stretching possibilities.
The Chaise Longue seat design, which has already garnered attention for its innovative approach, aims to optimize cabin space for passengers and airlines alike. Núñez Vicente emphasized that the goal is not to replace traditional airplane seating but to offer an alternative that maximizes space and comfort.
Despite some social media backlash, Núñez Vicente remains optimistic about the design’s potential benefits. “Every innovation has a lot of good reviews and also bad reviews,” he noted. “The advantages of these seats on two levels are completely on top of those drawbacks.”
While there are no concept images or detailed designs available yet, the collaboration with Airbus marks a significant step towards making the double-level seat design a reality. However, Núñez Vicente acknowledged that there is still a long development process ahead.
“With the support from Airbus, this is a realistic and achievable objective that will greatly improve travel for passengers,” he said.