United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
No federal help for passengers over the ‘incredible shrinking airline seat’
Airlines have dodged a bullet again with the Federal Aviation Administration declining to take any action against ‘the incredible shrinking airline seat.’
In response to a court order the FAA ‘has no evidence that there is an immediate safety issue necessitating rule-making at this time.’
In a letter to consumer group Flyers Rights, it said reduced leg room doesn’t impact emergency evacuations.
Flyers Rights had sued alleging that cramming in more seats hinders safe evacuations but the FAA says exit doors are the main bottleneck to smooth deplanements during emergencies.
Last year a court ordered the FAA to undertake a ‘properly reasoned disposition’ of safety issues relating to seat pitch.
"The FAA says that it has seen no evidence that passenger size, age or physical capacity effects evacuation time because it refuses to do testing that actually reflects the current passenger population and shrunken seats and aisle widths in any realistic way," said Flyers Rights President Paul Hudson.
Aircraft manufacturers have to show a full plane of passengers can safely evacuate within 90 seconds before a new jet model is approved.
However the agency has not set specific minimum seat pitch regulations.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel