New design for airplane seat will make it easier to sleep in economy

A new airplane seat design comes with an innovative solution to this inflight issue, using “padded wings” that fold out from behind both sides of the seat back — allowing both for additional privacy and a cushioned spot to rest heads for some shut-eye.

Interspace is the brainchild of Luke Miles, New Territory’s founder and chief creative officer. He spent three years working as Head of Design at Virgin Atlantic, so he knows his aircraft interiors inside out.

One or both wings can be utilized, depending on passenger preference. New Territory stresses the wings are robust and sturdy. At the London launch, there were two airplane seats on show, one depicting what it’s like to recline and the other in an upright position.

Both new design for airplane seat allow guests to play around with the wings’ settings. The flexibility is intriguing. While it does seem that a whole cabin of passengers unfurling the wings at once might be a bit chaotic, it’d be pretty great to have that ability to change things up during a long flight.

In fitting with the trend towards more personalized, data-driven flying experiences, New Territory is keen to add facial recognition technology to the mix too.