Frontier Airlines, the US LCC has faced a huge backlash over its decision to make passengers pay more for a seat positioned next to a vacant middle seat. Under its ‘more room’ policy it was intended to give flying passengers piece of mind, as they would be able to sit on their own for an increase in their ticket price.

Criticism from both passengers and lawmakers, has seen the LCC has withdrawn the offer and will now be blocking the middle seats off at no increase in ticket price.

Peter DeFazio, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure described the promotion as “capitalising on fear”, saying the policy as “outrageous” and described the airline as trying to make a quick buck.

Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle shared his thoughts in a letter to lawmakers following the fallout, as reported in NBC, saying:

“We recognise the concerns raised that we are profiting from safety and this was never our intent…We simply wanted to provide our customers with an option for more space.”