"Knees Touching the Seat in Front"... Outrage Erupts Over 'Chicken Coop' Airline Cabin

Airlines Intensify the 'Space Reduction' Competition
Economy Seats Now 5cm Less Than the Average
Safety Concerns Rise Over Excessively Tight Spaces

A Canadian airline has significantly reduced the distance between seats, resulting in a cabin environment so cramped that passengers can barely move, sparking controversy. On January 6, Yonhap News reported that a video filmed by a passenger on a WestJet flight was posted on the online community Reddit, drawing widespread criticism. The video showed that the gap between seats was excessively narrow, with the knees of an elderly couple of passengers almost pressed against the backrest of the seat in front.

The video shared on an online community showed that the gap between seats was excessively narrow, with an elderly couple's knees barely touching the seat in front. Daily Mail

The person who shared the video strongly expressed dissatisfaction, stating, "Since WestJet changed its seat layout, this is all the legroom you get when booking a basic fare." Other users who saw the post commented, "In the event of an unexpected emergency landing, this could lead to a major accident," and "This isn't a chicken coop, but it looks even smaller than the space for a single chicken," raising concerns about passenger safety.

Previously, in September of last year, WestJet reconfigured the seating on 43 Boeing 737 aircraft, reducing the seat pitch and adding an extra row. As a result, the total number of seats increased, but the space for passengers to stretch their legs noticeably decreased. According to the New York Post, despite ongoing complaints, WestJet management has maintained that the decision was made "to satisfy customers across a range of budgets." Samantha Taylor, WestJet's Vice President, explained at the time of the policy announcement that the seating arrangement was "carefully designed to provide warm service to all customers."

Economy Seats Keep Shrinking... What Is the Average?

The trend of shrinking economy class seats has been ongoing throughout the airline industry for years. According to the American Economic Freedom Project, the seat pitch of major airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines has decreased by an average of 2 to 5 inches (approximately 5 to 12 cm) since the 1980s.

The video shared on an online community showed that the gap between seats was excessively narrow, with the knees of an elderly couple of passengers tightly touching the seat in front. Daily Mail

Currently, the average seat pitch in standard economy class is about 30 to 32 inches (approximately 76 to 81 cm). The average seat width is 17 to 18 inches (about 43 to 46 cm), depending on the airline and aircraft model. In particular, the seat environment on ultra-low-cost carriers (LCCs) such as Spirit Airlines in the United States and Wizz Air in Europe is known to be even more cramped. The seat pitch on these airlines is reported to be only 28 inches (about 71 cm), which can be uncomfortable even for adult men sitting with their knees bent. Some aviation experts have pointed out that shrinking seat pitch is not just an inconvenience but can also pose safety issues during emergency evacuations, emphasizing the need for regulatory standards to be established.