Buckle Up For Comfort: New Airline Seats Could Change Long-haul Flights

Photo: Factorydesign 'Twister' airline seat from factorydesign.co.uk

Long-haul flights have a reputation for being uncomfortable and exhausting. Particularly if you are travelling in economy class, you could end up arriving at your destination with aching muscles or back pain; however, aviation expert and creative director of Factorydesign, Adam White, thinks he has come up with a solution that could change the way you fly, whether you are heading off to Thailand for a fortnight or enjoying a break in the US.

Innovative design

After travelling on a long-haul flight to Japan, White designed the 'Twister' airline seat. This seat takes up the same amount of space as a traditional airline seat but has moving ribs connected to a central area. The seat moves with the weight of the passenger, helping to distribute their weight more evenly.

We have all experienced long flights where painful pressure points lead to aches and pains in our legs, hips and arms; now, this new seat could mean an end to this discomfort.

Designed for everyone

This new seat has been designed to provide greater comfort for passengers on long-haul flights, specifically those travelling in economy class. Factorydesign believes that there is not enough focus on innovative design for economy seat and plane interiors, with most innovation focusing on first or business class.

Long-haul health risks

Long-haul flights can not only be uncomfortable but also they can carry health risks. Sitting for long periods of time in one position can create painful pressure points and put passengers at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs, or suffering from fluid retention.

This new seat design moves with the body and passengers can press a button to lock the seat in the most comfortable position for them. When the button is pressed again, the seat returns to its original position.

Hope for the future

If the design for these seats is adopted, we could all be enjoying more comfortable long-haul flights to exotic destinations in the future, even if we are not travelling in first or business class. We know which type of seat we would rather travel in; how about you?

Other innovative ideas design companies have come up with recently include a mezzanine level, which would seat some passengers above other passengers, and a pod that attaches to the roof of the plane.

Some of these ideas may sound crazy, but all innovation has to start somewhere!