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Chinese Airline Proposes Standing Room Sections on Flights

by Warren Riddle on July 3, 2009 at 02:10 PM

Spring Airlines of China has been struggling to accommodate an increase in passengers and flight routes while operating only 13 planes. The company ordered new jets (they're not expected to arrive until next year), so they want to propose a new boarding plan to the Chinese government: make certain areas of the plane standing room only.

According to Sky News, Spring believes the standing plan, which must be approved by the government, will create a 40-percent increase in passengers per plane and a 20-percent decrease in company costs. A company representative told China's CCTV that the jettison of seats won't lead to safety concerns, though, as safety belts wil still fasten around sanding customers' waists. Also speaking to CCTV, Spring Airlines' president Wang Zhenghua said that Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang helped inspire the idea when he "suggested that, for a lower price, passengers should be able to get on a plane like catching a bus."

While air travel may already be uncomfortable without having to stand motionless, the plan may appeal to frequent travelerers (who don't want to deal with checking luggage) in other nations, as well. Although, with recent reports that U.S. citizens are fatter than ever, it's not likely that this idea will take flight in the States. [From: Sky News]


Tags: chinese air travel, ChineseAirTravel, flight, spring airlines, SpringAirlines, standing plane passengers, StandingPlanePassengers, top, travel, weird

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