Published: November 2022

Effort to ensure safe airplane seat size continues in comments to the FAA

Consumer Action was one of a half dozen groups that submitted a comment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging the agency to place an immediate moratorium on reducing airline seat size, update its emergency evacuation testing standards—upon which safe seat size determination depends—and establish, on a provisional basis, a minimum seat size of 32 inches in pitch (roughly, legroom) and 20 inches in width.

Consumer Action joined National Consumers League, American Economic Liberties Project, Consumer Federation of America, Ed Perkins on Travel, and U.S. PIRG in comments submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding airplane seat size. The groups pointed out that inadequate and outdated emergency evacuation testing procedures will allow air carriers to cram increasing numbers of passengers into unsafe seating arrangements, and that data the FAA relies on in its decision-making process is not representative of the flying public. To avoid further reductions in seat size, the coalition members recommended that: the FAA place an immediate moratorium on air carriers installing smaller seats on planes; before determining minimum seat dimensions, the FAA update its emergency evacuation testing standards and retest emergency evacuations for current air carrier seating arrangements; and, the FAA establish a minimum seat size of 32 inches in pitch (essentially, legroom) and 20 inches in width (or larger, should the FAA or health experts determine more space is necessary for the health and safety of passengers).

Lead Organization

National Consumers League

More Information

Read the letter here.

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