Italian manufacturer designs aircraft seats with plexiglass

While the airline industry is racking its brains about how to fly as safely as possible in the future, according to the rules of the 1.5 meter economy, an Italian manufacturer of airline seats is already giving a lead.

The company Avio Interiors has ready two designs of airplane seats with a shield made of Plexiglas that, as long as there is no vaccine, can prevent possible infections with the coronavirus. The first design is the so-called “Glass Safe method,” in which each chair is fitted with plexiglass on the side. This method can be applied to existing airplane seats, which would keep the additional cost down for the airlines, the company says on its website.

The second design is more radical and requires more time to implement. This is the “Janus seat,” named after the Roman god Janus with two faces. In this design, the center chair is reversed and the chairs are given plexiglass along three sides. In this way, the passenger has his own safe space. Many parties in the aviation industry are thinking about how to deal with it when air traffic resumes soon. Keeping the middle row of seats clear combined with wearing mouth masks is often mentioned.

Emirates and Korean Air have already revealed that their cabin crew will be equipped with personal protection, including mouth masks and a single-use apron.