Sliding Doors Stalled: Airlines' Business-Class Upgrades Face Regulatory Hurdles

Airlines are rushing to upgrade their business-class seats as premium travel surges following COVID-19, but the complex designs are causing regulatory headaches and delays in certification.

Regulators must ensure that sliding doors, which have become a standard feature in business class, do not impede passengers during evacuations. United Airlines' Polaris suites on the Boeing 787-9 were certified only after seven months of waiting, with the doors kept locked open until then.

The FAA said it is working closely with seat and aircraft manufacturers to streamline the approval process. However, some planes are flying with business-class seats empty or partially unusable due to certification delays.