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Economy flying gets tighter with new 'cramped' class

If you like a little bit of personal space between you and the passenger next to you then you might want to avoid flying cattle class on future new build A380s.

If you like a little bit of personal space between you and the passenger next to you then you might want to avoid flying cattle class on future new build A380s.

Airbus has revealed plans to add an extra seat to each row on the jumbojet model, squeezing even more passengers on the aircraft.

According to the Daily Mail, from 2017 there will be 11 seats incorporated into the same space that currently fits 10.

The addition of the centre seat will change the configuration of the class from 3-4-3 to 3-5-3.

Airbus economy

That means if you’re right in the centre seat, you’ll need to move two other passengers every time nature calls.

This change will also see the introduction of a fourth class – First, Business, Economy and the new ‘Budget Economy’.

Senior Vice President of Marketing for Airbus, Christopher Emerson, said 90 percent of the travellers are economy, but they’re all looking for different options.

“We want to give a choice to the 90 percent of the economy passengers. They are going to be the driver of the growth, the doubling of growth in the next 15 years.”

Christopher Emerson, Airbus Senior Vice President of Marketing 

Critics have taken to Twitter to express their thoughts on the additional seat, with some calling it ‘economy minus’ and others saying they’re ‘onboard’ with choice.

What do you think of the new ‘cramped’ class?