Researchers from the University of Calgary in Canada have found that evacuation times from planes are increasing due to the increasing age of passengers. The study, led by Chenyang Zhang, found that an aircraft must be fully evacuated within 90 seconds in an emergency, but this target was not met under realistic conditions with seniors on board. The researchers used computer-based models and industry-standard simulation software to map human movement behaviour in the narrow cabin. They found that both the percentage of seniors and their exact seating distribution significantly influence evacuation time. The longest evacuation time was measured at 218.5 seconds in a densely seated cabin with 80% older passengers. To minimize the risks, airlines could seat older passengers near exits or adapt cabin architecture with wider aisles and optimized handholds.