10 Airlines with the 'Widest Seats' in Economy Class: 2026 Update

Over the past decades, economy class airplane seats have noticeably become more cramped, shrinking from approximately 35 inches in the 1970s to around 30 inches currently. This is due to airlines increasing the number of seats in passenger cabins, making leg room a critical factor for passengers seeking comfort. Japan and Arab airlines set global standards: Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), two giant Japanese airlines, jointly claim the top ranking with Emirates, offering 34 inches of leg space in economy class. In the United States, JetBlue stands out with leg room wider than 32 inches, which is closer to international full-service airline standards compared to most domestic carriers that have seat distances between 31 and 31.8 inches. Delta, Alaska Airlines, and Southwest Airlines are also in this group, with slightly above-average leg room, though still significantly less than leading airlines.