The Shrinking Seats in Australian Skies: A Call for Federal Regulation

After flying yesterday on the two major Australian Airlines this week I have to speak up the detrimental impact these airlines are having on customer, staff safety and wellbeing.

In recent years, the flying experience for most Australians has become markedly less comfortable and potentially more hazardous.

The culprit? The ever-shrinking seat space in the economy class of airlines. While aviation technology and services have advanced, passenger comfort appears to have taken a backseat, quite literally.

Once averaging a spacious 35 inches, the seat pitch—the distance between a row of seats—has now plummeted to a cramped 30 inches, and alarmingly, in some cases, to a mere 28 inches.

This reduction may seem trivial to some, but for the average passenger, it represents a significant encroachment into personal space and comfort, which could also impact safety and health.

A Profit-Driven Design that kills off the want to travel.

This trend toward tighter seating configurations is primarily profit-driven. More seats mean more tickets sold per flight, boosting airline revenues at the expense of passenger comfort and safety.

However, the long-term effects of such policies could be dire, requiring intervention from regulatory bodies like the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia, akin to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States.

Safety Concerns which are real and dangerous.

In emergency situations, every second counts. The ability to assume a brace position—bending forward with hands over one's head—is critical. But how is this feasible when the seat in front of you is mere inches from your face? The current cramped conditions could significantly hinder evacuation efforts during emergencies, potentially increasing the risk of injuries.

Top this off with the ability to get out of your seat fast is now gone. I watched a elderly disabled person struggle to get out of their seat with help yesterday and the poor staff that literally injured their own backs trying to assist them. Hardly right or fair.

I think form now on the entire Board and Executive Teams at Qantas and Virgin need to fly cattle class and experience regularly what their paying customers experience. It might wake them the F%$k up.

Health Implications

Furthermore, the health implications of tighter seating are equally alarming. Prolonged immobility in such confined spaces can lead to serious conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clotting disorder which is a known risk for long-haul flyers. The current seating standards or lack thereof disregard the well-being of passengers, exposing them to unnecessary health risks. CASA and the Airlines should be accountable for safety and Accessibility aspects.

It's a clear WHS Breach in Australia and in any other situation in Australia the safety regulators would be all over them. I have to ask why this is not be looked at.

A Plea for Regulation that comes from People / Customers and their Staff

It is imperative that CASA steps in to establish minimum seat standards that respect both the safety and comfort of passengers. These regulations should ensure that seat configurations accommodate 90 to 92 percent of the population, safeguarding the needs of Australian flyers.

This is not just about comfort but about upholding the rights of passengers to safe and healthy travel conditions.

Not just the ones who get the privilege of Business Class like our politicians in Australia who use the "peoples" money to self ingratiate themselves.

The Role of Public Advocacy starts with you

The path to change is through collective action. Australians must rally and petition organizations like CASA to pressurize them to enact and enforce these necessary regulations.

The narrative that airlines sell, that "customers have a choice," shifts the responsibility of safety and comfort back onto passengers, when in reality, few alternatives exist for those who need to travel by air.

These Airlines are "Licensed" by our regulators to provide a service and the make a lot of money in Australia. It's time there was a level of safety and service expectation that accompanies this.

As we advance into the future, our flight experiences should not regress to tighter, more uncomfortable seating that compromises our safety and health.

It's high time that passenger comfort and safety are not sidelined in the relentless pursuit of profits.

CASA and our politicians must act, and Australians must demand better, not just as consumers, but as citizens who deserve safe and respectful air travel.