Airbus exploring double-level airplane seat design

If you’ve seen images of the infamous double-level airplane seat concept and thought “that’s never going to happen” — maybe think again. Aviation start-up Chaise Longue, the brains behind the controversial dual-level seat, announced today it’s “exploring some early stage concepts” with aviation giant Airbus. This collaboration with an aircraft manufacturing heavyweight is a significant step in this seat design’s journey from college student project to potential in-air reality. Designer and Chaise Longue CEO Alejandro Núñez Vicente tells CNN Travel he’s thankful Airbus sees “the true potential of two-level seating.” An Airbus representative confirmed that “Chaise Longue is exploring some early stage concepts with Airbus on two-level seating solutions for Airbus commercial aircraft.” The representative added that “given the nature of this early phase level,” Airbus preferred “not to further comment at this stage.” The crux of Núñez Vicente’s Chaise Longue seat design is the removal of the overhead cabin to allow two levels of seats in a single aircraft cabin. The idea is that travelers would have the option of booking the top row or the bottom row — and while the lower level might look less-than-appealing in photos, bottom passengers would be able to stretch out their legs and enjoy extra leg room. The top level is also designed to give “larger recline angles” and “leg-stretching possibility” than your average economy airplane seat, says Núñez Vicente. Núñez Vicente initially developed the design for economy cabins before last year premiering a business class/first class iteration.<br/>