White House pushing for answers to airline industry woes

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11-14-2009 @ 9:23PM

Matt said...

Increasingly cramped? Airline seats have been the same width since 1958. If "personal space" had a 5 year moving average, it would be absolutely flat.

11-16-2009 @ 10:59AM

Joe said...

This is not true. Seats have been getting narrower on each generation of aircraft. For example a 727 seat is 34" wide. A 777 is 33". A A319, I believe is 28". A longhaul aircraft will certainly be more comfortable than a shuttle (airlines aren't immune to class action cases of DVT) . Boeing believes that 32" is the optimal width. But people are willing to put up with less if they can pay less.

Also keep in my mind that things can be perceived. More seats per per row "feels" more cramped even if the width hasn't changed. Manufacturers have lightened aircraft over time (thinner shells, thinner bulkheads) and the airlines have put more seats in the resulting space. Seat material has gotten lighter and thinner. So more room for more seats. Even though you're seat width hasn't changed much, you are sitting much closer together than 20 or 30 years ago.

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