The Senate has rejected an effort by Sen. Chuck
Schumer (D-N.Y.) to put an end to shrinking seats and legroom on airplanes.
The proposal, considered last Thursday as an amendment
to an FAA reauthorization bill that is under review by the Senate, lost 54-42
on a largely party-line vote. Just three Democrats voted against the measure
while only one Republican voted for it.
Schumer’s amendment would have directed the FAA to set
a minimum seat width and a minimum distance between rows for airlines. It also
would have established a moratorium on airlines further reducing their seat
size and it would have required airlines to post seat dimensions on their
websites.
A similar proposal, put forward by Rep. Steve Cohen
(D-Tenn.), was voted down by the House transportation committee in February.
The Senate debate on the FAA bill, including more than
100 proposed amendments, is expected to continue for much of this week.
The bill, which would fund the agency through Sept.
2017, currently contains new security provisions for airports and new consumer
protections for airline passengers.