Passengers board a Delta Airlines flight. (Photo: Tim Loehrke/USA TODAY)
The government is one step closer to coming up with regulation on minimum seat sizes for airline flights after the House passed the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act.
The legislation would extend funding for the FAA for another five years, but also includes provisions that would affect air travelers.
Chief among them: The bill orders the FAA to set standards for the size of airline seats, part of what’s known as the “Seat Egress in Air Travel (SEAT) Act.” The agency would have one year to come up with minimum requirements for seat width and for the space between seats.
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It’s unclear, however, what rules the agency might adopt. Passengers’ rights groups undoubtedly hope the FAA might pass requirements that would require airlines to add more space to seats that now have as little as 29 inches between rows. However, it’s possible that the FAA’s rules could instead end up codifying the tightest seating arrangements already offered on U.S. airlines.
The FAA bill is also notable for what is not included.
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