Airbus, Boeing in row over width of seats on long-haul flights

[PARIS] A row has flared up between leading planemakers over the width of tourist-class seats on long-distance flights, setting the tone for a bitter confrontation at this month's Dubai Airshow.

The dispute focuses on the width of seats provided on long-haul flights for economy passengers - not always the ones most courted by airlines, but whose allocated space holds the key to efficiency claims for the latest jets offered by Airbus and Boeing.

Airbus this week called for an industry standard that would provide for a seat at least 18 inches (46 cm) wide in economy cabins, but its US arch-rival Boeing said that it should be for airlines to decide.

The dispute comes as planemakers vie to sell ever-larger versions of their twin-engined long-distance aircraft, with potentiall…