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February 9, 2012
Politicians demand airlines provide more leg room
Published: 1 Sep 10 10:00 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100901-29529.html
German politicians on Wednesday called for airlines to provide passengers with more leg room to insure their security and health, in addition to justifying rising ticket prices, a media report said on Wednesday.
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Pawelski said she had sent a personal appeal to fellow conservative Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer.
Transport Ministry state secretary Enak Ferlemann insured the paper that the ministry would review the issue soon.
Pawelski argued that tall or overweight passengers were at risk during long-haul flights due seating arrangements that constrict leg movement. While cars and other forms of transportation are subject to strict European Union standards of security, no regulations for the space between airline seats exist, she said.
“Doctors and frequent flyers warn mainly of thrombosis, because the seats are getting increasingly closer at almost every airline,” she told the paper, saying that even a two-hour flight can amount to “physical torture” for tall people, while the corpulent can only “peel” out of a seat with great difficulty.
This poses a serious threat in the event of evacuation, she added.
European Union parliamentarian and CDU member Burkhard Balz agreed.
“We must find a rule to protect flight passengers,” he told the paper. “It should be uniformly regulated on a European level, which is why I will propose the subject to the European parliament.”
The Local (news@thelocal.de)
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Your comments about this article:
Now for people who are over-weight I am sorry but that is not the airlines fault you are to fat, I fully support it when airlines charge extra for large people. Because your gluttony makes other peoples trip highly uncomfortable. I can remember how many times I wanted to cry when I was stuck neck to a overweight person on a flight twice I was able to get a partial refund do to the fact I could not really use my seat that I had paid for.
Not all people who are fat are so becasue they overeat. There can also be medical reasons.
I'll bet Michael O'Leary is either sweating or celebrating this. If he has his way, there won't be leg room on some flights - and the very tall will get crushed against the ceiling.
wa
Instead blaming motor cars which is an easier target and putting the onus on people instead of big companies. I thought they could fly hovercraft over the sea using alternative energy slower maybe but less chance of fatalities and less impact on environment. I personally blame planes and rockets as a big contributor of the warming and climate change of the planet.