US Court Won’t Require FAA to Make Airplane Seat Size, Spacing Rules

A U.S. appeals court rejected Friday’s request by the Federal Aviation Administration to establish minimum seat spacing and size requirements. This is a blow to passengers on airlines who feel squeezed in tight seats.

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled FlyersRights.org had no legal right to make the FAA adopt seat rules. “clear and indisputable” Although tight seating is uncomfortable, it was dangerous.

In 2018, Congress gave the FAA one-year to set minimum seating dimensions, including pitch and distance between the seatbacks. “necessary” for passenger safety.

Although such regulations do not exist yet, it is important that airlines are able to evacuate passengers as quickly as possible in emergency situations. Carriers could reduce airline margins if they had to reconfigure aircrafts.

Circuit Judge Justin Walker rejected the request for a panel of three judges.