It comes after congressman Steve Cohen claimed the average distance between rows of seats had dropped from 35 inches prior to airline deregulation in the 1970s to around 31 inches today, which he said had raised health and safety concerns.

However industry commentators have warned that increasing space for passengers would likely result in an increase in flight prices.

Phil Bloomfield of Cheapflights.co.uk said: “Any legislation that increases the seat pitch will decrease the number of seats on the plane, thus reducing the average revenue yield per flight.

“It’s almost inevitable that the airlines will seek to offset that by increasing the cost per seat. “

Cohen has introduced the “Safe Egress in Air Travel Act of 2016” – or Seat Act, which calls on the US Secretary of Transportation to “establish minimum dimensions for passenger seats on aircraft,” including width and seat pitch - the distance from the front of one seat to the front of the next.  

“Shrinking seats raise safety and health concerns, and it’s time for the FAA to take action,” he added.

Bloomfield said: “Aircrafts operating within the European Union must have a minimum pitch seat of 66cm (26”) to meet safety standards, yet the average economy-class seat pitch is 31”, because airlines recognise that, whilst safety is vital, comfort is hugely important too.

“In the US there are currently no regulations on aeroplane seat size but none of the major airlines have pitches smaller than the 26” European minimum. This suggests that Cohen’s plea is more about passenger comfort than fears over safety.

“Comfort is hugely important for travellers, particularly when flying long-haul, but so is price.  If Cohen’s Seat act was to get through and airlines were forced to increase their seat pitches, potentially by as much as 4” to the pre-deregulatory size of 35”, a hike in fares would inevitably follow.”