Red Panda From Hong Kong, joined Jun 2000, 1521 posts, RR: 0 Posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2177 times:
Have you guys here ever been on an A320 with 180 Y-class seats? I've been on one yesterday nite from Orlando to YYZ operated by Skyservice SSV. The flt. was delayed for two hours and finally took off at 1am at Orlando, and arrived YYZ at 3:25am. it was a really cramped cabin with 180 seats. we finally safely landed at rwy 33R at YYZ. flt. no. SSV 425
ILUV767 From United States of America, joined May 2000, 3141 posts, RR: 8 Reply 2, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 2069 times:
Is 180 seats even safe? Well SkyService is based in Canada, so they dont comply with FAA regulations.
CrewChief32 From Germany, joined Dec 2000, 418 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2056 times:
Y180 is standard on almost every charter A320, just take a look at FlyFTI, Onur Air, Air Alfa or any British charter airline.
The A321`s of Air Alfa and Onur Air have a seating of 220 in all-Y-class.
ILUV767 From United States of America, joined May 2000, 3141 posts, RR: 8 Reply 5, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2020 times:
My point exactly, if an airline is registered in the United States, the FAA wont allow them to cram 180 people that is designed for 150. They would have to add another exit.
All those charter airlines are based somewhere other than the USA. Airlines that are not registered in the US, and follow FAA regulations can do what ever they want.
Iceair757 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2007 times:
Just as an FYI - both Canada 3000, and Skyservice are licensed, and approved by the FAA to operate these a/c into, out of, or base them within the U.S.A. (as both have done). In order to qualify for this, they must meet FAA standards with respect to safety. In many instances, these standards exceed FAA requirements.
As an example, with respect to crewing, the FAA allows U.S. airlines to operate with 1 Flight Attendant per 50 passengers, while elsewhere (including Canada) the requirement is a more stringent 1 Flight Attendant per 40 seats. So in that instance, if you were flying on a Canadian, or British, or Danish (etc.) registered aircraft, operating for a U.S. airline, you will have additional crew to manage an emergency - not the bare minimum allowable, as you would on an FAA mandated, U.S. registered aircraft.
Although the amount of exits per seats is certainly important, overall safety is not limited to that one factor.
The regulatory authorities in many other countries are equally qualified to mandate airline safety as the FAA. Just because the company is not registered, or based in the U.S., it doesn't mean it is less safe.
Having said all that, having flown Airtours, Air2000 & Leisure - either 174 or 180 seats are too many for an A320 - from a comfort perspective (but still better
than 235 in a 757...)
ERJ135 From Australia, joined Nov 2000, 671 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1974 times:
Funny you know, it's all just seat pitch you are talking about, and the minimum distance between seat rows govern the total per aircraft. Hence the A319 carries less than the A320 which carries less than the 757.
The 757 is longer and there for fits more seat rows, they are not simply positioned closer together.
Having said that if you do object to sardine class seating pay more and get more!
VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 49 Reply 11, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1969 times:
ERJ135 - not entirely true. The capacity is in someway governed by the minimum distance between seat rows. However, the binding limitation on the numbder of seats is how many emergency exits, and of what type, there are (someone posted a link to an interesting article about this not so long ago). For example, the 737-900 is larger than the 737-800. However, both aircraft are certified to carry no more than 189 pax, due to the number of emergency exit doors. 189 is also the magic number for the A320. From memory, it is 225 for the A321 and 757 fitted with no overwing exits.
"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh
CTFLYER From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 88 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1952 times:
JetCaptain From Canada, joined Dec 2000, 234 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 1941 times:
FYI,
Ryan International, a U.S. company, also operate A320's with 180 seats (for Skyservice USA btw), and as pointed out above, Skyservice Canada and Canada 3000 both operate flights orginating from the USA, so the argument that these airlines do not meet FAA criteria is simply incorrect.
The number of seats in itself is rather meaningless anyway. Does anyone know what the "seat pitch" is on an A320 with 180 seats ? And how does that compare with a B757 with say 235 seats ? And how does it compare with a regular airlines economy class seat pitch in a two class configured aircraft ?
Also isn't the A319/20/21 wider than comparable Boeing models, B737/B757 ?
The bottom line is people love to complain, but when it comes down to actually having to "pay" for more room, the market just isn't there. Put up or shut up IMHO.
Jbangert From Switzerland, joined Nov 2000, 75 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 1927 times:
For a given seat pitch, the Airbus 320 family will still offer the extra width of its fuselage by comparison with the Boeing 737 and 757, i.e. slightly wider seats and/or aisles.
OH-LGA From Denmark, joined Oct 1999, 1431 posts, RR: 21 Reply 17, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1911 times:
Well, maybe this is semi- off topic but not much, I've been on a Finnair 757-200 that was configured for charter ops with an all economy class seating of 218. It was actually the most comfortable plane ride I've ever had, my dad who is 6' 6" loved it as well as his knees didn't touch the seat in front of him and his feet were on the floor
Moi,
Kai
Head in the clouds... yet feet planted firmly on the ground.
ILUV767 From United States of America, joined May 2000, 3141 posts, RR: 8 Reply 18, posted (12 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1908 times:
Flyboy767,
I never thought that canadians were uncivilized! I'm just saying that in Canada, you have different rules and regulations than in the United States. I didnt think that the amount of exits on an A320 is safe for that many passengers. I wasnt sure if the FAA allows 180 seats on an A320. I guess that they do.
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