I'd rather pay more than stand

Tiger Airways to introduce standing-room on flights?

AsiaOne | Wed, Jul 7 2010

Airline says it could follow European low-cost carrier Ryanair in offering a 'vertical-seating' option.

BUDGET airline Tiger Airways may consider a lower-fare standing option for its passengers, Australian media reported.

It could take a page from European low-cost carrier Ryanair, whose chief executive Michael O’ Leary announced plans last week to have the ‘vertical seats’ made available in the next two years.

“We continue to look at ways of making our operation more efficient so we can offer even lower fares than we do now,” Tiger Airways director Steve Burns was quoted as saying in a news.com.au report.

“Everything we do is about offering the lowest possible fare then allowing our customers to choose what, if any, extras they wish to pay for,” he added.

Ryanair’s proposed standing-room option, which has yet to be approved by aviation regulatory bodies, was put to a poll involving 120,000 passengers in July last year.

Some 66 per cent said they would be willing to stand for a one-hour flight if the fare was free, while 42 per cent would do so if the airfare was half of a seated passenger.

During the poll, Ryanair also released a graphic of how the ‘vertical-seating’ would look like, with passengers strapped down in a “secure upright position”.

However many doubt if the idea will ever take flight, dubbing it a Ryanair publicity stunt. Danny Rogers, editor of PR week, quotes a statement by aircraft manufacturer Boeing explaining why it’s not feasible.

“Among other things, stringent regulatory requirements - including seats capable of withstanding a force of 16 Gs - pretty much preclude such an arrangement,” said the spokesperson.