Judge orders FAA to investigate 'shrinking' airline seats

(CNN) – The Federal Aviation Administration is now under a federal court order to review the sizes of seats and legroom on commercial airlines.

It’s a victory for Flyers Rights, an advocacy group that has pushed for new rules regulating seat sizes.

After the group’s petition to the FAA was turned down in 2015, it went to the courts.

Advocates argue small airline seats can put passengers’ health at risk for conditions like blood clots in legs, and they say growing obesity rates aren’t being recognized by airlines.

Flyers Rights offered evidence that the average width of seats has been cut an inch and a half over the last decade.

The Washington D.C. court’s decision cites space between the seat and the one behind it has also decreased.

Airlines have said being able to add extra seats can improve efficiency and offer better fares for travelers.

In March, the Senate rejected a plan to set minimums for airplane seat width and legroom distance.

Any new FAA regulation would bypass the need for action from Congress.

The FAA has not commented.

Copyright 2017 CNN. All rights reserved.