Hans Huggler authored an article in Oregon Business magazine’s April issue titled “Law at 30,000 Feet: Who Governs Airline Passenger Rights?” The article discusses what laws apply in commercial aviation, specifically regarding passenger rights, seat size and support animals.
Seat pitch (the distance between any point on a seat and the same point on the next seat) has been decreasing for two decades, with major airlines dropping from a range of 31-36 inches in 1985 to 30-33 in 2014. Some commercial flights now offer pitches of just 28 inches. Recently, a federal appeals court found the FAA had been “arbitrary and capricious” when it declined to regulate seat space to ensure passenger safety during evacuations.