Young aircraft seat designer, Alejandro Núñez Vicente, sparked debate last year after revealing his double-level aircraft seat. The seats sit on four rows, two on the top level and two on the bottom, using recycled aircraft seats from 1995.
His design went viral, provoking a variety of responses including intrigue, amusement and outrage, after which inbound travellers to Spain, celebrities and virtual users through the Metaverse were given the opportunity to test and inspect the prototype. “The bottom seat is the only one with extra leg-room,” was one Reddit comment, while another read: “I'd do it. That leg-room seems amazing.”
CNN Travel testers found the bottom level seats to be claustrophobic, noting, however, that this may not bother everyone and the seats definitely facilitated comfortable sleep.
Earlier this month, Vicente exhibited his design at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg for the second time, showcasing an improved version of the original chaise longue.
According to CNN Travel, the double-decker seating concept started as a college project in 2021. After being nominated for the 2021 Crystal Cabin Awards, the concept was made public, and Vicente paused his Master’s degree and dedicated his time to making his concept a reality.
Now, he has sponsors, partnership deals and regularly meets with stakeholders in the aviation industry. Responding to the criticism about creating a concept that could cram more seating into economy class, he says this is a misunderstanding. Standing at 1,88m, he had designed the chaise longue to create more leg-room for tall passengers. The design is intended to only occupy the central rows in the cabin, with the seating on the sides still to be used for conventional seating.
He says airlines find the design appealing for its increased passenger capacity. “Many airlines and big players of the industry are trying to push us to put more passengers into the aircraft,” he says. “It’s not our main priority, but with this kind of design, it’s also possible.”
