Are face-to-face seats the future of travel, or 'a sick joke'?

Zodiac Seats' hexagonal seating design is intended for short-haul high-density flights. Photo / Zodiac Aerospace

For air passengers who cannot bear to look at their fellow travellers in economy class, it may prove a step too far.

But face-to-face seats would at least eradicate in-flight battles over elbow room.

A French firm has come up with a seating plan that sits passengers facing each other - a move it says can fit more passengers into an aircraft.

So instead of passengers all facing the front of the plane, the middle seat in each row would face in the opposite direction.

Aviation-fittings supplier Zodiac Seats, which has a UK off-shoot, believes its thin, lightweight seating is more effective as it would increase shoulder and leg room.

It has applied for a patent for its hexagonal seating arrangement and insists the industry has shown keen interest.

Designed for short-haul high-density flights, it also has room for a computer tablet and a cup holder. A flip-up seat is designed to make access easier.

Pierre-Antony Vastra, vice-president of Zodiac, said: "It's a different way of travelling. We can have nice conversations."

But some safety experts say the idea would not meet safety regulations as it would be too difficult to evacuate an aircraft.

And not everyone else is convinced either. Gadget website Wired said: "If you're around the sort of people one usually sits next to on aeroplanes it would be horrible. At least if you are all facing the same direction you can pretend they don't exist." Technology website Gizmodo said it was "the most atrocious aeroplane seating design you've ever seen" describing it as "a sick joke".

New concept of plane seats. Sardines come to mind#evil #design pic.twitter.com/a6BrMoYkm5

— Phoenix Factory (@PhoenixFactory_) July 10, 2015

Zodiac says the plan would add an extra 80 seats to a standard Boeing 767 - planes that usually take 255 to 375 passengers.

Televisions will still be in the back of the seat in front, along with trays. The patent says the configuration will reduce the likelihood of the arms of passengers in adjacent seats from interfering with each other.

But website Geek noted: "Perhaps the saving grace of flying economy is that you can look straight forward and ignore the crush of humanity all around you. It's just you and that seatback for the whole trip.

"However, the 'Economy Class Cabin Hexagon' takes away that one source of joy by replacing the standard middle seat with a staggered rear-facing seat.

"That means no matter where you're sitting, you'll probably be staring someone else in the face for the whole flight. Maybe even two someones."

It did note that, for the romantic at heart, there is one bonus: "It makes it super-easy to hold hands with your neighbour."

But the website warned: "Of particular concern would be the requirement that passengers can evacuate quickly in the event of an emergency.

"You would pretty much have to climb over a seat if you were sitting at the window."

- Daily Mail