Airlines With the Most Economy Legroom in 2026, and Who's Adding More

On a long flight, the difference between a comfortable economy seat and a cramped one can come down to an inch or two. So which airlines are getting it right?

It’s a given that flying economy means a cramped experience, but some airlines are roomier than others, with enough legroom even when seated at the back of the plane. If you’re looking for the most legroom in economy, without having to pay extra, here are the top seeds, according to published rankings, who’s adding more, and why others don’t.

The economy seats on a commercial airplane | Source: Pexels

Who Leads on Legroom

According to the rankings published by Simple Flying, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Emirates are at the top, each with 34 inches of seat pitch, which refers to the distance between rows. JetBlue stands out among U.S. airlines with a seat pitch of 32.3 inches, followed by Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas at 32 inches. Southwest is at 31.8 inches, and Alaska and Delta are at 31.

Condé Nast Traveler’s June 2026 list of comfortable long-haul economy cabins gives pitch figures by aircraft, including about 34 inches on Japan Airlines’ Airbus A350-1000, ANA’s Boeing 787-9 and Emirates’ Airbus A380.

The publication's list also shows how much else goes into a roomy seat. Emirates’ Airbus A380 seats have an 18-inch width and four inches of recline. Singapore Airlines’ A380 has 19-inch-wide seats and six inches of recline, and Cathay Pacific’s A350-1000 has 18-inch seats and up to six inches of recline.

Who's Adding More

Some carriers are also upgrading their seats to add more room. It was reported in March that ANA's new economy seats, to be installed this summer on its midsize long-haul aircraft for Europe and North America routes, add 2.5 centimeters of space around the knees.

In March 2025, Swiss also launched a new economy cabin, called Swiss Senses, with seats offering 31 to 33 inches of pitch and an extra inch of knee space thanks to a molded seatback. The first Airbus A350 with the cabin flew Zurich to Boston in November 2025, and the airline is retrofitting its A330s.

Why Most Airlines Don't

The industry standard for seat pitch is 31 to 32 inches and regulators don’t set a minimum. The reason why some airlines won’t add more legroom is because even just adding an inch of legroom can cost an airline a row of seats. Flyers who complain about legroom are often also unwilling to pay more for it.

In 2000, American Airlines tried to raise its seat pitch to 34 to 35 inches as part of its "More Room Throughout Coach" program, but passengers were unwilling to pay a premium, so the airline discontinued the program by 2004.

Passengers seated in the economy section of a commercial flight | Source: Pexels

While traveling with more legroom can make a big difference, the pitch isn’t the whole story. Even with a lower pitch, manufacturers claim it can still feel roomier with “slim-back” seats, so the number doesn't always match the comfort. Seat width, recline, and layout matter too.