Legal/Ethical Challenges
Should Airlines Accommodate Oversized People? Traveling on an airplane can be extra difficult for overweight and tall people. Boeing’s 757 standard seat width is 17 inches, while Airbuss 319s is 17.2 inches wide.247 Given individual differences in hip width, this can be a problem, particularly for women. This issue was investigated by the Civilian American and European Surface Anthropometry Resource Project (Caesar). The project was funded by a consortium of companies.
The Caesar project measured over 4,000 people from the United States and Europe and uncovered the follolling: “The hip breadth of men in the 95th percentile of the population. i.e., on the very big side, measures 17.6 inches. This means that 95% of all men can fit into a standard Airbus seat. In contrast, females face a different situation. According to Caesar’s report, “the hip breadth of women in the 90th percentile is 19.2 inches, and those in the 95th percentile have hips measuring 22.4 inches. “248 The core skeletal system is the reason for the difference between men and women. Females simply have a larger pelvis than men.
Do you think airlines should accommodate people with larger hips? Although there are not any regulations in the United States to accommodate people, New York senator Charles Sehumer wants the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish minimum seat size standards. Some people believe that forcing airlines to establish bigger, standard seat sizes ultimately increases fares. Industry group Airlines for America opposes the idea. “The group flotes that the FAA should regulate seat size for safety, but should not substitute its judgments for market forces on what people are willing to pay. “249
Seat pitch, the distance between seat backs, also is decreasing. This males for less leg room for all people. The typical seat pitch in Economy class is 29—32 inches, with a range of 29—36.250
The trends are clear. In general, airlines are adding seats while decreasing seat width and pitch. These changes clearly impact taller, wider, and heavier individuals. Somoa Air is resolving this issue by charging fees based on passengers’ weight. Does this seem ethical? The question to consider is whether seat width and pitch should be regulated or determined by market forces.
SOLVING THE CHALLENGE
- I recommend creating a national standard for seat width based on the average hip size of men and women. I would also standardize seat pitch so that it accommodates the average height of men and women. Once this is done, I would charge passengers a special fee for more space.
- Let market forces determine the design of airplanes and fares. The government should stay out of this issue. For example, Bombardier’s CS100 expanded seat width to 18.5 inches and included 19 inches for the middle seat. The airline maker did this to compete with smaller seats offered in planes made by Airbus and Boeing. 251
- Because women on average have larger hip breadth than men, it is not fair to base fees on the size of a seat. This would disadvantage women. I would standardize seat width based on the average size of women. People can pay extra fees if they want additional seat width or pitch.
- Invent other options.
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 11 Solutions
MANAGEMENT: A PRACTICAL INTRO - ACCESS
- CASE In his research entitled Factors Influencing the Purchase Decision of Smartphone Users in Sultanate of Oman (Renjith,2020), cited that the Sultanate of Oman is a very vibrant mobile market with over 177% penetration on mobile usage. There are active regulation and enforcement of the market regulations, and high levels of supervision of mobile and internet operators. Almost 92% owned a smartphone and there is a widespread use of the latest smartphone handsets, and almost 82% of the respondents indicated they had intermediate-level skills with mobile technologies (www.tra.gov.om, 2011). He also pointed out that Oman is the fastest-growing market for smartphones in the GCC region with 65 percent of users switching to these devices, according to Ashraf Fawakherji, Vice-President, Middle East, for Huawei (Gulf News, 2013). All of this information is a result of extensive market research. Considering the details mentioned in the case; Discuss the importance of market research. Discuss…arrow_forwardIdentify 2 or 3 tactics for addressing low-income youth recieving preventative denal care and include a tactic involving the development of a health care policy.arrow_forwardWomen sue Apple, claim AirTags helped exes stalk them Apple has been sued by two women who said its AirTag devices have made it easier for former partners and other stalkers to track down victims. Starting at $29 US ($39 Cdn), AirTags are 3.2 centimetres in diameter and intended to be slipped into or attached to keys, wallets, backpacks and other items so people can find those items when they are lost. But privacy experts and law enforcement have said some people use AirTags for criminal or malicious purposes. In the proposed class action filed on Monday in San Francisco federal court, the women said Apple has been unable to protect people from unwanted tracking through AirTag since launching what it called the "stalker-proof" device in April 2021. The plaintiffs called AirTag "the weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers." Their lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for U.S. owners of iOS or Android-based devices who were tracked by AirTag or are "at risk" of being stalked because of…arrow_forward
- help me Write TEN (10) policies, regulations, and guidelines on hygiene standards for safe food handling for a day care centre of your choice. Appropriate regulatory requirements relating to food handling and hygiene in the day care centre.arrow_forwardDebate whether it is ethical to track consumers’ physical movements, especially children’s movements.arrow_forwardEriko has been playing the piano since she was five years old. When she is asked to play a relatively easy piece, like "Chopsticks," she does so with very little effort. During such a performance, Eriko's is active. A. premotor cortex B. supplementary motor area O C. ventral premotor cortex D. dorsal premotor corteXarrow_forward
- Is there a demand for clinical mobility? If yes, explain by sharing two(2) devices that you find interesting not exceeding 50 words.arrow_forwardA transaction broker in Florida would represent: Other agents The clients Other brokers The real estate dealarrow_forwardAnalyse How Normal is Normal The Mitsubishi Motors Sexual Harassment Case using SWOT analysisarrow_forward
- As a good researcher, what is the difference between correlation and causation? Provide some examplesarrow_forwardHow does employing face recognition technology in public without customer agreement violate the ACM code of ethics and conduct?arrow_forwardAnalyze using FLSA standards to determine whether they are exempt or non-exempt positions based. include justification and including types of exempt classifications (if applicable) E-commerce Marketing Manager/Sales Division Manager/Senior IT Manager/Traffic Manager Returns/Inventory Processor Administrative HR Assistant/Mailroom Coordinator Marketing Director/Director of Supply Chains and Logisticarrow_forward