These Futuristic Airplane Seats Could Make Flying Economy Better

Here's why they won't recline.

Next-Gen Economy

Economy seats lack padding, leg room and — often — a reliable source of in-flight entertainment.

But British design firm Layer has heard your pleas. It's partnered with Airbus to design an economy seat design for shorter flights that incorporates next-gen automation and connectivity — and it could even save airlines some fuel thanks to its lightweight design.

And yes, we're talking about economy class, not business or first.

"At Layer, we believe good design should be accessible to all," said Layer founder Benjamin Hubert told Dezeen. "All too often, new concepts for flying are focused on innovation in business class."

The Move App

The company's "Move" airline seats use "smart textiles" made out of a special polyester wool blend with embedded sensors. The material allows passengers to "monitor and control various factors — including seat tension, temperature, pressure and movement" according to an official website.

Conductive yarn woven into the fabric allows the temperature of the seats to be controlled by passengers. The fabric also automatically adjusts the tension according to the passenger's size and weight during the flight. To adjust those settings, passengers use an app.

Seats can also be configured with larger flat-screen displays, depending on the airline and the features it decides to offer.

The seats will even prompt passengers to get up every once in a while inside the cabin encouraging them to stretch their legs and drink some water.

Most unusual of all: Layer's prototype seats do not recline — to ensure everybody has enough legroom.

READ MORE: Are these airplane seats the future of economy? [CNN]

More on flying: Tomorrow’s Airplane Cabins Could Be More Luxurious Than Your Apartment