Minimum airline seat sizes a bad idea
The Washington Post reports:
Congress is considering a freeze on the airline industry’s shrinking coach seats, an unprecedented move that could lead to a more comfortable and humane flying experience. A proposed amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill would direct the federal government to set minimum seat-size standards for the first time, over the airline industry’s objections.
The average distance between rows of economy-class seats has dropped from 35 inches before airline deregulation in the 1970s to about 31 inches today. The average width of an airline seat has also shriveled from 18 inches to about 16 1/2 inches.
This is stupid. So long as there is adequate competition, then people can choose airlines on seat size if that is what is important to them. I hate small seats and that is a factor in deciding which airline to fly with. But you don;t need the Federal Government deciding for everyone what size is acceptable.
Why stop there? A law for seat size in movie theatres?