Airlines Now Squeeze 10 People Into a Single Row In Economy

And there’s an even crazier configuration on the way

Credit: the author

Over the last few decades, airlines have worked harder and harder to cram more people onto their planes. The more passengers they can carry on a flight, the more revenue they earn.

Passengers may grumble, but ultimately we love cheap flights more than we love legroom and comfort. If the existence of low-cost airlines and their enduring popularity is any guide, the trend toward reducing ticket prices by cramming in more passengers isn’t going away any time soon.

The pinnacle of this trend is a recent move by several airlines to cram as many as 10 people into a single row onboard certain jets on highly valuable routes.

“10 abreast seating,” as it’s known, isn’t new. Discount airlines have used the technique for a while, and carriers like Cathay Pacific began experimenting with it in 2015. Newer planes like the Airbus A350 come standard with options for 10 abreast seating, and more airlines are reportedly opting for this configuration. (Airlines get to choose the configuration of new planes when they lease them, and can update layouts later at a cost.)

The difference now is that even large legacy airlines like United and American are beginning to try it out…