Aircraft

Privately owned Chinese low-cost carrier Spring Airlines has spoken to Airbus about adding standing seats on its Airbus A320s so it can have 40% more passengers on board.

Zhang Wuan, an official at the Shanghai airline who works closely with the chief executive, says: "We are planning to have standing seats" and have had "initial discussions with the Airbus side to see if the safety question can be" addressed.

"We want to have it so more people can afford to fly," says Zhang, adding that the carrier estimates it can fit 40% more passengers on board its A320s.The standing seats will reportedly look like a bar stool and have a safety strap.