Airbus and Boeing are in a dispute over the width of economy seating, with an emphasis on seating available in long-haul services.

According to Reuters, Airbus is calling for an industry-wide standard of at least 18 inches, while Boeing believes airlines should be have the right to decide.

The disagreement is important as economy class is often an important source of revenue, with smaller seating allowing for more passengers and, thus, more economically efficient or viable flights.

This also comes ahead of the Dubai Airshow, starting November 17th, where many airlines are expected to make large purchases from manufacturers, including both Airbus and Boeing. The latter is expecting to sell its 777X planes, capable of holding 406 people with economy seats 17 inches wide and in rows of ten.

Airbus, however, will compete with its A350, which can hold 350 passengers on 18-inch-wide chairs set nine across - this small difference of one inch results in 56 less potential customers per flight, which may not prove beneficial for airlines, but the manufacturer has also launched a campaign appealing to the public for support.

The biennial Dubai Airshow is an important event for the industry and this year's will be the biggest in its history, with over 60,000 trade visitors attending.