This actually seems like a good idea.
Why did Europeans come up with it?
Here’s the thing....you’d have X number of these for a 20/80 mix on VIP/regular travel and X number for a 50/50 mix. Depending the route, time of day, and you’d just slip it into the bay and get everyone to act like a herd of cows.
I think it’s a really bad idea.
Even if you ignore any issues related to the passengers themselves, this is certain to create a heavier airframe for a given number of passengers, and a heavier airframe means more fuel burned per mile/km.
The only way it might make sense is on short flights in which the passenger loading/unloading time is a relatively large portion of the flight time.
How will the airlines get you your tiny bag of pretzels and 6 oz of a drink?
I don't know how stuffing you into pod is a good idea, but to each his own...
“This actually seems like a good idea.
Why did Europeans come up with it?”
They needed a way to quickly redistribute Syrian refugees...another European brainstorm.
Actually that's not a bad idea. All airplanes could be designed as cargo hulls and the roll-on passenger modules could be configured in a myriad of ways. That would simplify airplane design and allow passengers to select their preferred level of comfort.
EUropeans are more likely to accept being put in flying cattle cars.