An AI-generated video showing passengers traveling standing up in airplanes is raising concerns among internet users about the future of commercial aviation.
The clip presents what would be the “economy class” of a commercial flight where all the “seats” are simply vertical boards with seatbelts securing passengers at hip height.
In this scenario, there would be no possibility for passengers to sit. Although it seems absurd, many internet users are genuinely worried that airlines might adopt this mode of transportation in the future.
This theory is based on the fact that, in most modern aircraft, the legroom between economy class seats is getting smaller, suggesting that airlines are increasingly looking to optimize cabin space to fit more passengers on a single flight.
In this way, although it would cause extreme discomfort for passengers, the airline could make a lot of profit from the space savings provided by this layout, which would allow for more seats in the same space and, in turn, sell more tickets.
This is what standing flights would look like
📹AI pic.twitter.com/AYSkX32zVZ
— Viral Vibes (@x_viral_vibes) January 5, 2026
“Don’t give any ideas to low-cost airlines. This looks miserable,” one internet user commented in the video’s comment section. “Standing for 10 hours on a flight would be insane,” another user said.
“I get sick and need to sleep on the plane, this absolutely doesn’t work for me under any circumstances,” a third user wrote. “Hard no, unless the flight is 10 minutes long,” added another.
It’s worth noting that this type of seat already practically exists. The Skyrider 2.0 from the Italian company Avionteriors is described as a semi-standing seat, similar to a bicycle seat.
It was first introduced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 in Hamburg, Germany, as reported by Mail Online. “The Skyrider 2.0 is an innovative seat,” the company said at the time.
“It enables ultra-high density in the aircraft cabin. The Skyrider 2.0 opens up the travel experience to a broader passenger market, also creating useful space for introducing mixed classes on the same aircraft.”
“Its key feature is the original lower part that ensures an increased vertical position for the passenger, allowing the seat to be installed in a reduced step while maintaining adequate comfort,” Avionteriors said at the time.
“The design of this seat allows [carriers] to increase passenger numbers by 20%, enabling airlines to increase their profits.”
According to the Time Out website, several low-cost airlines are already considering implementing the use of the Skyrider 2.0 seat as early as this year.
Photo and video: X @x_viral_vibes. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
