Plane seat dividers could become travel norm after coronavirus

This could be the key to unlocking air travel during COVID-19 — new seat accessories designed to keep us safer.

How much more can we squeeze into an aeroplane?

In mid-March, the coronavirus pandemic forced the travel industry to cut tens of thousands of jobs and pause a majority of flights, particularly international routes.

While in Australia travel bans and state border restrictions have largely put a pause on air travel, in the United States, plenty of Americans continue to travel by air at rates surpassing cars and trains — though they’re not happy about it.

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To address widespread concern over the hygiene travel, EarthBay, a product design company based in France, wants to give flyers some added peace of mind during the pandemic — and it might even stick around after the pandemic.

The New York Post reports the company’s design for a removable seat partition adds another potential solution to prevent viral transmission, after Italian company Aviointeriors proposed novel pod-like seats last month to serve the same function.

The concept is designed to keep passengers safer from disease transmission. Picture: EarthBay

The design is actually a kit that can be fitted onto airlines’ existing plane seats. Picture: EarthBay

EarthBay founder Florian Barjot, an aeronautical engineer, says their dividers are cheap and easy to install, therefore a more practical option for airlines than an entire cabin redesign.

“The idea of a removable kit makes sense when the need for sanitary measures is temporary and/or limited to a geographic area,” Mr Barjot told CNN Travel.

How the proposed seat kit works. Picture: EarthBay

The viral barricade, dubbed the PlanBay, is two parts, with one panel secured onto an empty middle seat and another stretching across the backs of the headrests — effectively separating a passenger from others in front, beside or behind them.

Mr Barjot explained that the proposal is a follow-up on their flagship design, an aeroplane cargo space transformed into a luxe bedroom suite, which launched EarthBay. However, the concept has yet to be commissioned by any carrier.

The designer said they’re cheap and easy to install. Picture: EarthBay

On May 5, the International Air Transport Association, an industry group representing some 290 airlines including travel giants American, Delta, United, Lufthansa, Air France and Air China, issued a statement promoting the use of face masks over newfangled cabin accessories, that might require “dramatic cost increases to air travel.”

Italian company Aviointeriors proposed similar pod-like seats last month. Picture: Aviointeriors

IATA’s director Alexandre de Juniac claimed the revenue losses as a result of blocking the middle seat would make it impossible for carriers to survive these already-strained economic conditions.

“We must arrive at a solution that gives passengers the confidence to fly and keeps the cost of flying affordable. One without the other will have no lasting benefit,” Mr de Juniac said.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission