WORLD DIGEST || Airbus eyes new coach-seat design

Airbus eyes new coach-seat design

The trend for coach seats in the airline industry has been to squeeze leg and hip room to pack as many paying passengers as possible into each cabin.

But now, a division of the European airline manufacturer Airbus has applied for a patent for a seat design that can offer extra space for overweight fliers.

Airbus is suggesting that airlines use a bench seat. In a bench seat, all the passengers share the same long seat cushion and backrest.

According to the Airbus patent application, the advantage of a bench seat is that the seat belt can be moved sideways along the length of the seat to fit between two and four passengers. The disadvantage is that the seat back can’t recline, and in the configuration for four passengers, the two fliers in the middle don’t get an armrest.

Disney night safari

NEW YORK

Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom will launch a new nighttime light show along with nighttime safaris April 22.

The new Animal Kingdom offerings will begin after sunset and last well into the evening, with the park staying open some nights as late as 11:30 p.m., according to Disney officials.

The new after-dark light show, called “Rivers of Light,” will be an immersive show combining live performances, floating lanterns, special effects and other imagery, with guests seated around a stage that consists of a body of water.

Geography quiz

Q. Which country is at the southernmost point of the Balkan Peninsula?

A. Greece. The peninsula is surrounded by the Adriatic, Ionian, Mediterranean, Aegean and Black seas.

New Disney ships

LOS ANGELES

Walt Disney Co. is adding two new ships to its cruise line, the company said last week.

The new ships, which will expand Disney Cruise Line’s fleet to six, are scheduled to be completed in 2021 and 2023. Each ship will include 1,250 guest staterooms, the Los Angeles-area company said.

They will be the first ships to be added to the fleet since the launch of the Disney Dream in 2011 and Disney Fantasy in 2012.

Combined dispatches