Goodbye, air rage: Reclining seats banned by Monarch Airlines in bid to reduce passenger clashes
Monarch Airlines has abolished reclining seats in a bid to reduce ‘air rage’ incidents, after 90 per cent of passengers said they wanted them banned.
The airline promised passengers more leg room and ‘living space’ on flights thanks to a new, thinner seat design.
The move to the rigid-backed seat will be popular with fliers, after a survey conducted by flight search engine Skyscanner found that nine in 10 people would like to see the recline feature banned.
As many as 60 per cent of cabin crew staff also said that they had witnessed or been involved in a dispute caused by the seats.
Monarch, which flies from six UK airports, aims to use the opportunity to cut costs as well as improving the passenger experience.
The new seat design, which will include seat backs with more space and a specially-designed compartment for tablets, will save fuel and reduce carbon emissions through being lighter.
A set of new seats on a flight going to Egypt would require 255kg less fuel, which equates to 816kg in carbon dioxide emissions.
Tim Williamson, Monarch’s marketing director, said: ‘Our new ergonomic seats have been designed with our customers’ needs in the forefront of our minds.
‘The new non-reclining design gives our customers far more “living space” than traditional seats, without the fear of the person in front impinging on their personal space.’
