Innovative convertible sofa bed could be the future of airplane seating

How good is kicking back on the couch?

Well soon, you could be doing that while flying high at 30,000 feet.

An Italian aerospace company has created a revolutionary "sofa-bed" design that some are saying could be the future of airplane seats.

READ MORE: Tim the weatherman's favourite Aussie spots all have one thing in common

It's "a sofa that with a simple mechanical movement becomes a bed," explains the design company, Optimares, on their site.

Named the "SoFab", the business class seat aims to maximise passenger space and comfort, while also being more sustainable than typical seats.

Rather than using the typical mechanical components to move the seat around, it has a "minimalist mechanism" like a sofa bed.

The seat back doesn't recline, but is connected to a cushioned legrest and ottoman.

READ MORE: Here's what it's like living full-time in Antarctica

When fully expanded, the SoFab provides a bed surface area that is "25 per cent greater than comparable high-end business class seats," according to Optimares.

The bed measures 101 centimetres wide and 198 centimetres long - just shorter than a standard king-sized bed.

View gallery

Qantas revamps in-flight freebies and menu ahead of Paris Olympics

This extra space means that passengers have more freedom to sleep however they like: on their back, side, front, curled up or stretched out.

The seats also include a privacy divider, plenty of seat storage and a table that transforms out into a full, restaurant-style meal table.

READ MORE: Inside the $2.6m suite on board the 140-night world cruise

The design will debut next month at the 2024 RedCabin Awards, which recognises designs that celebrate innovations to improve sustainability, comfort, cost, and space on airplanes.

Thanks to the lack of mechanics, the SoFab weighs in about 50 kilograms lighter than a typical business-class seat - meaning less fuel is needed for the aircraft, saving the airline money.

This also lessens the "risk that there will be a seat malfunction," the site reads. "This ensures a high level of risk-free seat availability and little on-board maintenance."

Optimares also uses recyclable and sustainable materials to manufacture its business class seats.