WestJet Legroom Debate: Viral Video Sparks Calls for Regulation

On Dec. 26, 2025, an Alberta family—Amanda Schmidt, her parents Manfred (6’3”, 220 lb) and mother—faced cramped conditions on a WestJet flight from Edmonton to Toronto en route to the Dominican Republic. The video shows the family in ultra‑basic economy seats with a 28‑inch pitch, prompting criticism that the reconfigured aircraft—22 of WestJet’s 200‑plane fleet—offers insufficient legroom. WestJet said the changes were Transport Canada‑approved, but pilots’ union chair Jacob Astin warned the layout reduces safety margins. Aviation expert John Gradek of McGill University called for federal regulation, noting Canada lacks seat‑pitch standards. WestJet paused plans to add more non‑reclining seats after backlash.