Molon Labe Seating
This Colorado company has grabbed some headlines with a new concept for seating that creates more seating for middle-seat flyers — and allows for repositioned gaspers that direct streams of air past a passenger ’ s face .
By sliding middle seats back a few inches , Molon Labe has found a way to increase room for middle seats by an average of three inches , while also adding individual armrests between seats . That decreases the chances of strangers having to touch each other as they get into and out of their seats , said CEO Hank Scott .
“ If people want more touchless travel , we can do more with our staggered seat ,” Scott said .
The company also has designed a rotating one-sided head rest that swings into place with the ducting to provide fresh air directly into the flyer ’ s face , while also creating a physical barrier with the passenger on one side .
“ You get that sense of fresh air , not just in a pandemic but forever ,” he said .
Scott said his company has contracted with a manufacturer that is building the first ship-sets of its staggered seating — which it has branded as the S2 — for an as-yet-unnamed leasing company .
The approach is a long-term one . By the time airlines can afford to buy new aircraft and interiors , we ’ re likely to have a COVID-19 vaccine . So , his goal is less to find a specific solution to spreading coronavirus , and more on finding ways to make customers feel comfortable in the air with equipment that improves airline economics .
“ The airline that goes for an S2 is going to be the airline that keeps flying through the next pandemic ,” he said .
Molon Labe also is working with Tapis and SIMONA Boltaron on a joint effort that would utilize products made by all three of them : Molon Labe ’ s seat designs , Tapis ’ anti-microbial fabric for seat covers and SIMONA Boltaron ’ s microbial-resistant plastic for surfaces like tray tables .
OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2020 ISSUE NO . 17 11