EasyJet Reveals New Kestrel Seats Giving Passengers Extra Legroom on Flights Across London Gatwick to Cape Verde

Budget airlines are notorious for packing passengers tightly, leaving even short flights feeling cramped.

EasyJet is now stepping up to change that experience with a new type of economy seat that promises more space for your legs — without sacrificing the number of seats on board.

From 2028, hundreds of new easyJet planes will feature the innovative Kestrel seat, designed by British company Mirus Aircraft Seating.

These slimline seats aim to give travelers a more comfortable journey while maintaining the airline’s efficient cabin layout.

Two Extra Inches for Your Legs

The Kestrel seat design is all about smart engineering.

Passengers will gain an additional two inches of knee and shin room, making it one of the roomiest options among low-cost carriers.

The secret lies in the reshaped backrest, which allows passengers’ hips and spine to tuck further back, freeing up extra space for legs.

Using carbon fiber instead of standard plastic, the seats are thinner but just as strong, giving the passenger behind crucial extra inches.

However, the seat comes with a fixed recline of 22 degrees, which guides passengers into the most space-efficient position.

Reclining manually won’t be possible, which some might find inconvenient, but it helps avoid crowding the person behind.

How It Compares to Standard Economy

Currently, easyJet’s standard economy seats offer 28 to 29 inches of pitch, meaning taller passengers often feel cramped.

By contrast, long-haul carriers typically provide 31 to 34 inches, leaving room to stretch.

The new Kestrel seats bridge that gap, making short- and medium-haul flights more comfortable without compromising seat count.

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Kenton Jarvis, easyJet’s CEO, explained: “We’ve always had very comfortable leg room in easyJet.

This product is exceptionally comfortable, exceptionally light and allows a configuration that creates more space for the customer in the cabin.”

Fleet Rollout and Limitations

The new seats won’t appear in easyJet’s current 350-plane fleet, due to the cost of replacing existing seats that are still serviceable.

Instead, the Kestrel seats will be installed on Airbus A320neo and A321neo planes starting in 2028.

David Morgan, easyJet’s COO, added: “We are delighted to be introducing the Mirus Kestrel seat across our future fleet.

On top of the sustainability benefits, the additional legroom and enhanced comfort these seats will provide will also deliver an improved onboard experience for our customers which we know they’ll love.”

Long-Haul Challenges on Short-Haul Planes

EasyJet’s longest route — London Gatwick to Sal, Cape Verde, a six-hour, 2,400-mile flight — uses the same aircraft as short-haul flights.

That means passengers travel without WiFi, power sockets, or in-flight entertainment.

On such flights, every inch of legroom becomes more noticeable, making the Kestrel seat a welcome upgrade.

Journalist Genie Harrison of the Daily Mail reported on the experience, detailing how she kept herself entertained and comfortable at 30,000 feet despite the non-reclining seats.

Impact and Consequences

The Kestrel seat could set a new standard for low-cost carriers, showing that budget airlines can provide comfort without reducing capacity.

Carbon-fiber slimline designs may influence competitors to rethink traditional economy seating.

However, the fixed recline may spark debate among travelers who value the ability to adjust their position.

What’s Next?

Passengers flying easyJet from 2028 onward can expect a noticeable improvement in legroom on new aircraft.

Meanwhile, airlines may experiment with similar seat technologies to balance comfort and efficiency.

Whether this sparks a wider trend in budget aviation remains to be seen.

Summary

EasyJet is introducing Mirus Kestrel seats on its future Airbus A320neo and A321neo planes starting 2028.

These slimline economy seats offer two extra inches of legroom through innovative backrest design and carbon-fiber construction.

While passengers can no longer recline manually, the new seats promise greater comfort and space efficiency for budget travelers, especially on longer flights.

Bulleted Takeaways

• EasyJet to install Kestrel slimline seats on new planes from 2028.
• Seats provide two extra inches of legroom for knees and shins.
• Carbon-fiber design makes seats thinner without compromising strength.
• Fixed recline of 22 degrees, no manual adjustment possible.
• Rollout limited to new Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, not existing fleet.
• Improved comfort expected on flights up to six hours, including London Gatwick to Sal.
• Could influence other budget carriers to adopt similar seat technology.