Percentage of U.S. General Population Accommodated by Commercial Airline Seats

Abstract

The number of seats per airplane has increased over the years, leading to a decrease in seat width and legroom. Using the HFES Multivariate Accommodation Testing Tool, the percentage of the general population accommodated in a static seated posture was calculated with respect to two important design dimensions of airline seats, seat width and legroom. Results from this article can inform seat manufacturers and airlines on how to design seats that physically accommodate the largest number of passengers. This paper does not address passenger safety and comfort, which are complex, multi-factor issues that extend beyond physical accommodation.