The Future of Airplane Seat Reclining or Not

To recline, or not to recline, is a troublesome question. Recent events in the U.S. air travel market prove that it is a volatile issue for some passengers, leading to aggression onboard. For airlines, and the aircraft seating industry, it's a puzzle. Is it better to provide the option of recline, and risk seat troubles when one passenger offends another, or should the recline feature become a relic of passenger experience past? At a recent cabin comfort panel session during the IATA World Passenger Summit, industry experts reviewed the merits and trends of recline and no-recline seats, searching for balance. Present at the panel was Klaus Steinmeyer, VP Business Development for Recaro Aircraft Seating, who reported that, after years of no-recline models waiting on the concept board, interest in this option has spiked. "We brought non-reclining seats in 2009, for the Crystal Cabin award. [It was considered] a great seat,” he said. “But then it got silent. We didn't get