Italian company Aviointeriors unveiled a new type of seat, the SkyRider, at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in California. The seat is aimed at budget airlines and short haul routes less than three hours long. It offers just 23in of space compared to a more “generous” economy class average of 30in.

Martino Matijevic, CEO and Founder at WhichBudget.com comments; “The SkyRider has taken the concept of high density seating to the next level and will be of interest to the low fare airlines looking at new ways to maximise passenger capacity and profitability for their airline. Some airlines already adopt high-density seating between 28-30in. For some travellers this is already close enough. At just 23in seat pitch, the new SkyRider introducers a new class of travel and poses problems for tall or large passengers. As yet, no airlines have expressed an interest in using the seats but with talk of stand-up cabins, we think a reduction in the average seat pitch of 30in is only a matter of time.”

WhichBudget has put together a list of airlines’ seat pitches to show travellers which airlines offer the most space in economy class. Seat pitch is the measurement between the headrest of one seat and the same point on the seat in front. The greater the distance the better the chances of surviving a flight without any cramp!

Singapore Airlines             32-34in
Royal Jordanian                 32-33in
TAP Portugal                   32in
Cathay Pacific                   32in
Thai Airways                   31-36in
Air Canada                     31-34in
British Airways                 31-34in
Emirates                       31-34in
United Airlines                 31-33in
bmi                             31-32in
Continental                     31-32in
Qantas                         31-32in
Scandinavian Airlines           31-32in
US Airways                     31-32in
Virgin Atlantic                 31-32in
Swiss                           31 in
Flybe                           31in
Alitalia                         31in
American Airlines               30-34in
Air New Zealand               30-34in
Lufthansa                       30-33in
Japan Airlines                   30-33in
Etihad                           30-33in
Delta                           30-33in
Air France                       30-32in
AerLingus                       30-32in
Iberia                           30-31in
KLM                           30-31in
Qatar Airways                 30-31in
Thomas Cook                   30-31in
Germanwings                 30in
Jet2                             30in
Ryanair                         30in
bmibaby                       29-33in
easyJet                         29in
Monarch Airlines               28-34in