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Airline Seat Pitch

  The economy seat pitch for 115 airlines is contained in the table below.

Seat Pitch is the distance between the rows of seats and is measured from the back of one seat to the back of the seat behind, the measurements being taken from the same position on each seat.  It can differ between aircraft within an airline and is not the only guide to seat comfort, the width and shape of the seat can be just as important.

The UK regulation sets the minimum distance of 26" between seats, dimension A in the diagram, and is equivalent to a seat pitch of about 28". This depends on how thick the seat back is. Dimension A is how the CAA measure seat pitch, and gives a smaller size than the way an airline measures it. I use the airline method, described in the first paragraph above, for consistency.

Seat pitch is for most passengers an important part of their comfort because it governs to a large degree how much leg room they have. This in particular has come to the fore with the recent debate over DVT.

As the information contained on this web site is aimed at helping people get the best deal for their money reference to seat pitch in business and first class will no longer be included. Lets face it if you sit in the expensive end of the aircraft seat pitch is not really a problem, but if you want to know, or the airline you are interested in is not included in the table, you can email me at seatpitch@uk-air.net.

Unless stated otherwise seat pitch is for aircraft flying on international routes, and where the seat pitch is given as between two sizes it is because different types of aircraft in the fleet have a slightly different seat pitch.

I really do appreciate all the feedback I receive about this page, especially those who take the time to provide new information or point out errors. Please keep the comments coming they all help to increase the airlines in the list and make it as accurate as possible.

 

AIRLINE SEAT PITCH IN ECONOMY
Adria 31" -32"
Aer Lingus 32"
Aeroflot 32"
African Safari Airways 31"
Aerolineas Argentinas A340 - 32" - 34" :  B747 - 31" - 34"
Air 2000 28" -29"
Air Algerie 32"
Air Canada 32"
Air China 33"
Air France 31"
Air India   31" - 34"
Air Jamaica 33"
Air Malta 32"
Air Mauritius 33"
Air Namibia 33"
Air New Zealand 747- 34": 777/767 - 32" others 30"
Air Pacific 32"
Air Seychelles 32"
Air Transat 29" - 33" depending on aircraft type. This is the airlines unverified claim.
Airtours (My Travel) 29" - 30" Long Haul: 28" Short Haul
Air Zimbabwe 30"
Alitalia 32"
All Nippon Airways 33"
American Airlines A300 & B757 31" - 32": All other AA aircraft 33" - 35"
Astraeus Airways B737  29" - 31"                               B757  30" - 31"  Premium 36"
ATA - American Trans Air 30" - 32" depending on aircraft type
Austrian Airlines 31"
Avianca 34"
Britannia Short Haul - 28"                              Long Haul - Std 30" : Premium 35"
British Airways 31" :  World Traveller Plus 38"
bmi (British Midland) 32"
bmibaby 29"
BWIA 32"
Cathay Pacific 32"
Channel Express 30"
China Airlines 32"
China Eastern Airlines 32"
City Flyer Express 31"
Continental Airlines 31"
Croatia Airlines 30"
Cyprus Airways 31"
Cyprus Turkish Airlines 32"
Czech Airlines (CSA) 32"
Delta Air Lines 32"
Easyjet 29"
EL AL 32"
Egyptair 32"
Emirates 32"
Ethiad 32"
Eurocypria 32"
Eva Air 33" (747)  31" (767) :                       Economy Deluxe 38"
Excel Airways 737s - 29" - 30" & 767s - 30" - 31"
Finnair 32"
First Choice Long haul Star Class 33": Premier 36":      Short haul 28"-29"
Flybe 31"
Futura 29" - 30"
Garuda 33"
GB Airways 31"
Gulf Air 32"
Helios 30"
Horizon 32"
Iberia 32"
Iceland Air 31"
Independence Air CRJ - 31": A319 average is 33"
Iran Air 32"
Japan Airlines 32"
Jet Airways 31" International:  30" Domestic
JetBlue 32"
Jet2 30"
JMC 28"
Kenya Airways 32"
KLM 31":  except 737-300 30/31": Fokker 100 31/32"
Korean Air Wide Body 33 - 35": Others 31" - 32"
Kuwait Airways 32"
LanChile 32"
Lauda Air 31" - 32"
LOT 32"
Lufthansa 32"
Malev 32"
Malaysia Airlines 34"
Middle East Airlines 32"
Monarch Airlines 28" - 29": Premium economy 34"
My Travel 29 - 30" Long Haul:  35" Premium Long Haul: 28" Short Haul
My Travel Lite 30" (airlines unverified claim)
Nationwide Airlines - South Africa 32"
Northwest Airlines 32"
Oasis Hong Kong Airlines 32"
Olympic Airlines 32"
Oman Air 32"
Pakistan International 32"
Philippine Airlines 32"
Qantas Australia 31"
Qatar Airways 32"
Ryanair 30"
Royal Air Maroc 32"
Royal Brunei 32"
Royal Jordanian 33"
SAS 30" short haul: 32" long haul. Check relevant seat plan to confirm
Saudi Arabian Airlines 32"
Singapore Airlines 32"
South African Airways 31": Upper deck 747-400 is 34"
SouthWest 32"
Sri Lankan Airlines 32"
Swiss 32"
Tarom 32"
TAP Air Portugal 33"
Thai Airways 33"
Thomas Cook Long haul 30": Premium economy 35"
Travel City Direct 32" Standard:  At extra cost - Upper deck 34": Premium 38": First 50"
Turkish Airways 32"
United Airlines 31" - 32" : Economy Plus 35" - 36"
US Airways 32 - 34"
Varig 34"
Virgin Atlantic 30" - 32" ( the majority are 31") Premium Economy 38"
Virgin Blue 31" (rear rows 30": emergency exit row 39")
Zoom Airlines 31" : Premium Economy 36"

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To avoid allegations as to the source of the information on this page, it has been obtained from the following:-
Physically obtained by myself, and/or from the airlines or their web sites and publications, contacts in the airline and travel industry, Daily Telegraph, Which and BBC, and in most cases from several of these.

Revised: 28 Feb 2008 13:30:58 -0800 .