The 25-year-old designer behind the double-decker airplane seat which sparked widespread criticism has debuted a first-class model at an aviation show in Germany.
Alejandro Nuñez Vicente, the founder of Chaise Lounge, built the latest invention with his girlfriend and business partner, Clara Service Soto. It differs from the economy class concept by having one seat on the bottom, and two on top. The economy class model has three seats on the top and bottom rows.
Mr Nuñez Vicente calls the new design “elevated class”. The more expensive option is secluded, has a lie-flat bed and lots of legroom.
He showcased the new design at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg this month. It’s the same place where he announced the economy version of the seats last
Mr Nuńez Vicente’s company started as a college project after too many uncomfortable flights, he explained. The founder is 6’2 and has struggled to sleep on cramped airplanes.
Speaking to CNN, the innovator said that a handful of big companies are interested in implementing the technology but declined to name them. Any further development of the project will happen behind closed doors, he told the outlet.
“Now that we know economy works, and now that’s moving forward, we thought, ‘Why not go to the other end of the cabin and do a business-class/first-class hybrid?’ he said.
Mr Nuñez Vicente said that his goal with the company is to make flying better for the general public.
“To make more space for more seats in the airplane,” he said. “But also give the passengers an even better experience than they get today in business or first class.”
The economy versions of the seats went viral in 2022 and were widely ridiculed.
One social media user commented: “As if being on a plane isn’t miserable enough already” with another noting: “fresh hell just dropped.”
But the designer has taken the criticism on the chin. “To be honest, there’s no such thing as bad publicity,” he said at the time.