earticle

영어

As the aviation industry gradually recovers from a downturn caused by the pandemic, airlines are increasingly focusing on launching various products. This is because passengers now perceive air travel not just as a means of transportation but as an integral part of their journey. Charging extra for emergency exit row seats, offering more space, reflects passengers' desire for a more comfortable travel experience. However, this focus on revenue generation overlooks the critical aspect of security in air transportation. Recent incidents, like a passenger opening an emergency exit on Asiana Airlines Flight OZ8124, highlight the inadequacies in current procedures for allocating emergency exit row seats. This article examines the definition of emergency exit row seats and reviews the current boarding standards for these seats in domestic airlines. It identifies four key issues: (1) the commercialization of emergency exit row seats, (2) inadequate briefing on emergency exit row seats, (3) insufficient procedures for assessing passengers' mental health, and (4) lack of regulations on alcohol consumption for passengers in emergency exit rows. Addressing these issues could lead to two significant outcomes: (1) reshaping public perception of emergency exit row seats, and (2) better preparation for emergencies through continuous monitoring and assessing passengers' mental health. This study reaffirms the importance of emergency exit row seats and the need to improve related procedures.