Good news for anyone sick of cramped seats in economy
At a time where economy seats seem to be getting tighter and tighter, a US appeals court panel has delivered a ruling which will be a big win for those sick of the sardine treatment.
The panel stated that federal officials must reconsider their decision to not regulate the size of airline seats, saying it represents a considerable safety issue.
The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) had previously argued that seat spacing was a matter of comfort, not safety, and needn’t be regulated, but the three-panel judge at the federal appeals court in Washington said it needs a better response.
Of particular concern to the panel was how cramped seating could slow down the response time in emergency evacuations and increase the likelihood of blood clots.
Passenger advocacy group, Flyer Rights, applauded the decision.
Kendall Creighton, a spokeswoman for the group, said, “We applaud the court’s decision, and the path to larger seats has suddenly become a bit wider.”
While this is good news for passengers, it’s fair to say that some airlines won’t be thrilled by the ruling as many have made moves to reduce the space between rows.
What’s your thought on the ruling? Do you think there should be external regulation for airlines in terms of seat spacing? Or is it fair enough for them to make the call?