British Airways is asking trans-Atlantic passengers to squeeze a bit closer to allow the airline to add seats on many of its 777s, including a number of trans-Atlantic routes.
The airline’s 777s, like most others, have been flying with 9 seats across in economy, but will now add another seat for a 3-4-3 arrangement that will see a bit taken from each aisle and each seat.
The new arrangement, which will start next summer, applies only to 777s based at Gatwick, where flights to New York, Orlando, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic compete with discount competitors. The head of BA says it will “lower the average cost per seat, charge a lower price and stimulate demand.” Planes flying from Heathrow won’t be affected.
Aside from the reduced seat width, critics have pointed out, the denser arrangement, with 20% more passengers, will result in the passengers-per-toilet ratio to go from 25 to 30.
