Sir, - Robert Hayes-McCoy's letter on outgrowing theatre seats (October 23rd) struck a responsive chord with me, not only in relation to theatre seats, which I too find increasingly restrictive. People are growing larger, a fact which also doesn't seem to have registered with those who design aircraft passenger seats and those who configure them in the economy or tourist class in the modern commercial aeroplane.
I am six feet tall and weigh around 13 stones. I flew recently from London to New York and returned via Boston with a reputable airline, using two different aircraft types. In each case the journey was very trying with very little legroom and a seat which grew progressively more uncomfortable. I would be interested to hear if this discomfort is unique to my particular body shape and me. Incidentally there was more seat room on the flight from London to Belfast, which seemed odd in view of the relative duration of the journeys. - Yours, etc. Noel R Gault,
University Park, Coleraine, Co Derry.