Originally Posted by
Badenoch
I stand to be corrected but even during the era of airline regulation governments did not specify a minimum seat size.
Fares will rise more than slightly not only because of reduced capacity but will have to cover the cost of the retrofit, time out of service, new seats, etc. Meanwhile, those large international carriers to whom the regulations do not apply will overnight be far more appealing to people who can tolerate smaller seats and want cheaper fares. Air Canada would be an immediate beneficiary.
Government would also need a better reason than passenger comfort and accommodating broad American behinds. If it were strictly about comfort an argument could then be made regulations should also be introduced for trains, theaters, sporting venues and other places where the public sits.
One of the best ways to regulate is through taxation. A tax of say between $5 and $20 per ticketed seat per flight could be placed on seats narrower than 18 inches or with less than 32 inches of pitch. If reconfiguring the aircraft isn't economically feasible, then a tax can be paid. The tax would be levied on all carriers, so foreign carriers wouldn't get an advantage. This would also allow the airlines to make the changes at their leisure, so planes wouldn't have to be rushed into a retrofit. But until the seats meet minimum standards, each substandard seat would be subject to a tax. This would be a great way to stop the race to the bottom, by removing the profit motive for shrinking seats beyond a certain minimum.