NOTICE TO MEMBERS Petition No 1513/2024 by Andrzej Katafias (Polish) on introducing minimum acceptable legroom space for commercial aircrafts flying in the EU

European Parliament 2024-2029 Committee on Petitions 27.6.2025 NOTICE TO MEMBERS Subject: Petition No 1513/2024 by Andrzej Katafias (Polish) on introducing minimum acceptable legroom space for commercial aircrafts flying in the EU 1. Summary of petition The petitioner requests the introduction of EU-wide regulations regarding the minimum legroom in passenger aircraft to avoid negative impacts on safety, health, comfort, and accessibility for EU citizens. He argues that reduced legroom significantly hinders evacuation, especially during emergencies such as fires or crash landings, increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), particularly on long-haul flights, and excludes taller individuals from being able to access air travel services comfortably. The petitioner mentions Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 on the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility in air transport, Directive 2002/49/EC on environmental noise and Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights to support his claim. The petitioner suggests to establish minimum legroom standards across all airlines operating in the EU (a minimum seat pitch requirement of at least 76 cm in economy class), to mandate that evacuation tests be conducted under realistic conditions that include full passenger loads with carry-on luggage, to require airlines to disclose seat dimensions during ticket purchase for the sake of transparency, and to oblige airlines to provide seats with extra legroom at...