§ Viscount Waverleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is considered the necessary space, for health reasons, between seats in the economy section of aeroplanes on long haul flights of 6, 12 and 18 hours 24WA for persons of 1.90 metres, 1.95 metres and 2.00 metres in height. [HL393]
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)There is at present one minimum seat spacing requirement in aircraft cabins, though this exists to allow safe evacuation of an aircraft in an emergency, rather than for any health reasons. Until further research has been carried out we cannot say if there is a minimum amount of space between seats that would be necessary for health reasons, though a distinction should be made between health and comfort. There are indications to suggest that immobility, rather than seat pitch, is the main risk to health.