A new bill presented in Congress would expand the current size of airplane seats and increase the space between rows of seats. If passed, the Federal Aviation Administration would be required to adhere to minimum measurements for both seat width and distance from one row to the next.

Currently, airlines can pack as many seats as they want onto their aircraft, so long as passengers can safely evacuate in fewer than 90 seconds in case of emergency. The Seat Egress in Air Travel Act, however, would obligate airlines to reconfigure existing seats that do not meet the specified federal measurement requirements.

The personal space of passengers in airline seats slowly decreased during the past 40 years, infringing upon customer comfort and teetering on the edge of legal safety regulations. After the failure of a similar bill presented in 2016, authorities hope to see a more favorable outcome the second time around, much to the delight of frequent travelers.