"Can't Even Stretch Their Knees"... Canadian Airline Faces Backlash Over 'Chicken Coop Seats'

[Financial News] A Canadian airline is facing a surge of complaints after drastically reducing the space between seats, leaving passengers frustrated. The policy of shrinking seat sizes has even raised safety concerns.
On the 5th (local time), a video was posted on online communities such as Reddit, showing a passenger's experience on WestJet.
The poster lamented that WestJet had altered its seat dimensions, resulting in much less legroom for standard fare seats. In the video, an elderly couple appeared unable to move, with their knees pressed tightly against the seat in front.
Local online users reacted by saying, "It seems dangerous in case of an emergency landing," and "It looks even more cramped than a chicken coop."
Last September, WestJet reduced the seat pitch on 43 of its Boeing 737 aircraft to add an extra row. As a result, the space for passengers to stretch their legs was significantly diminished.
According to foreign media outlets including the New York Post, WestJet stated that the decision was made to accommodate customers with a range of budgets. Samantha Taylor, Vice President, emphasized, "We have carefully designed our services to serve all customers."
The reduction of seat space is a trend across the airline industry. Data from the American Economic Freedom Association shows that the seat pitch on major airlines such as American Airlines has decreased by 2 to 5 inches compared to the 1980s. In particular, low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines now offer as little as 28 inches (about 71 cm) of legroom.
hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter