The invention provides a method for adapting a seat row arrangement in an airplane in order to set seat row distances, wherein the currently desired pattern of seat row positions is stored in a control device and wherein the seat rows are mounted on seat tracks (4) extending in the longitudinal direction and can be locked therein against longitudinal movements by a locking mechanism (12, 13) associated with each seat row, wherein each seat row whose position is to be changed is, under control of the control device, unlocked by releasing the locking mechanism for the seat row, is moved automatically on its seat tracks to the predetermined position by operating drive means under the control of the control device, and is locked there on the seat tracks by the control device by actuating the locking mechanism, characterized in that at least one cable (6) which is extending in the longitudinal direction along the cabin is driven by a motor to move back and forth in a manner controlled by the control device, each seat row or group of seat rows to be moved is subsequently moved by selectively coupling it to the cable (6) under the control of the control device for controlled time intervals such that the seat row follows the movement of the cable during coupling intervals whereby the movements of the cable integrated over the coupling intervals equal the total movement of the seat row or group of seat rows to the position according to the desired pattern of positions.