Plane toilets set to shrink as airlines look to save space By Travelmail Reporter It is sometimes referred to as "the littlest room." And planes on toilets - those compact spaces where you have to tuck in your elbows and try not to make any sudden movements lest you bang your head on the mirror - tend to be smaller than most. But if recent developments in the airline industry are a sign of the future, then bathrooms at 36,000ft will soon change from being "little" to downright "tiny." No sudden movements: Airline toilets are set to become even smaller In the constant battle to cut costs and maximise revenue, airlines are now looking to shrink the size of their toilets - a decision that will allow them to squeeze in more seats. Delta Airlines is one of the first carriers to order new on-board lavatories that will be smaller than the 3x3-foot-dimension toilets currently widely in use. These reduced-sized bathrooms will be fitted to the airline's 737-900 aircraft, and will allow Delta to fit four more seats into the planes" economy-class cabins. The airline says that passengers will not notice the difference, as the extra room will be harvested from space behind the sink units, which is currently wasted. The wall of the lavatory will also be "sculpted" to let the seats in front of it recline. These lesser-proportioned loos will start to appear on the US-based airline's fleet of 737 aircraft later this year, but only in the economy compartments. The move is likely to be the start of a toilet downsizing process, as rival airlines rush to keep up with any competitive advantage taken up by their rivals. "On airplanes, it is all about how you use the real estate," Sebastien Weber, chief executive of Zodiac Aerospace - a Los Angeles-based firm that builds toilets for aircraft - told the Wall Street Journal. Of course, while smaller toilets may allow airlines to pile on more passengers, they are unlikely to solve the age-old problem of the long queue for the bathroom that seems to spread out ahead of you at any time on a flight when your need is urgent. Perhaps the greatest brains of the airline industry can turn their attention to this "little" matter next. Book your travel CALL 0808 230 1002