You still have a few weeks left to let the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) know what you think about airline seat sizes. However, one passenger advocacy group is concerned the federal government will not take strong enough action when it comes to plane seats, and so they are demanding action.
In a rule petition filed this week, the nonprofit FlyerRights, an advocate for larger seats on airplanes for many years, has called for the FAA to set a minimum seating standard that “can hold 90 to 92 seats.” % population”.
The group cited the need for passenger safety in the event of an emergency, as well as the need for comfort and health, as the basis for their requirements for more stringent seating regulations.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
FlyersRights has also called for a moratorium “on further shrinking the seat size.”
For the 26-page rule-making petition, FlyersRights argues that it “comprehensively demonstrates that half of adults can no longer reasonably fit into most seats of airlines anymore,” the organization said in a statement on Friday.
The filing will take place more than two months after the FAA’s three-month comment period regarding airline seats; one study seemed to be related, most focused, to safety. At this point, it is unclear whether, in fact, there will be any new regulations regarding seating standards.
However, FlyerRights argues that previous law called for the FAA to introduce seating requirements.
An FAA spokesperson told TPG on Saturday the rule petition filed by FlyersRights will be reviewed under the agency’s rule-making procedure. The FAA has six months to decide whether to accept or deny the petition.
Group claims inaction by FAA
Among the main concerns raised in the seat petition, FlyerRights claims the FAA has essentially ignored the deadline to set minimum standards for airline seats.
The FAA’s Reauthorization Act, passed in October 2018, called for the agency to do research and action when it comes to airline seat sizes.
Section 577 of action said the FAA should issue regulations establishing dimensions for passenger seats on aircraft “including minimums for seat height, width and length.”
The act calls for any action to be taken within one year of its passage, which means fall 2019.
To date, the FAA has not set a minimum seat size for commercial aircraft.
However, like TPG reported this past summer, the agency has begun a 90-day process of collecting comments on minimum seat sizes. Anyone can weigh in between now and November 1.
Concerns about safety and comfort
As part of this week’s filing, FlyersRights acknowledges the need for passenger safety in the event of an evacuation or where a passenger must attempt to force a landing.
However, the organization also points to the possibility of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) formation in passengers while on board, as well as comfort and entry into personal space, when concerns arise. should be exacerbated by what they call “shrinking” airplane seats.
A typical airport in economy class on major US airlines is 30 to 31 inches, with a smaller airport common on some lower-cost airlines.
FlyersRights has called on the FAA to consider those comfort factors when considering potential action on seat size. For now, however, the FAA seems to focus more on safety, rather than comfort, in setting seat sizes.
The section of the 2018 reauthorization act that focused on seat sizes noted that the agency would be responsible for setting minimum size requirements “necessary for passenger safety”.
Additionally, when the agency began collecting comments on seat sizes this summer, it noted that this request for comment concerns “the minimum seat size required for passenger safety.” plane passengers.”
US airlines will most likely oppose any sweeping action by the federal government when it comes to seat size regulations.
Key point
Years after a federal law called for action on airline seat sizes and standards, the FAA is looking into the matter, and you can still weigh. However, the focus is on safety, not comfort. So some airline passenger advocates fear any future rules – if any – won’t go far enough.
Read more:
