Southwest Airlines is preparing for a significant transformation over the next two years, aiming to enhance the passenger experience and adapt to evolving travel preferences. The airline will introduce a series of major changes, including the addition of more red-eye flights and a shift from its traditional open seating policy to assigned seating after 50 years.
“This is a very significant change. It may be one of the most significant changes we’ve ever gone through,” said Ryan Green, Southwest’s executive vice president of commercial transformation, in an interview with CBS News’ Kris Van Cleave, who recently previewed the future cabin designs.
Passengers can expect noticeable upgrades as part of the redesign, which will affect the interiors of all 800 of Southwest’s existing aircraft. Among the enhancements are new seat trays, device trays, and charging ports available at every seat. Additionally, for an extra fee, the airline will offer premium seating that provides 3-4 inches of additional legroom on refurbished planes.
“Customers want premium of all kinds, and if you’re flying longer, that extra legroom is worth a lot,” noted Southwest CEO Bob Jordan during the announcement.
Southwest plans to start booking flights with assigned seating in the latter half of 2025, with the newly designed cabins set to be ready for travel in the first half of 2026, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The airline executives revealed these remodeling plans at an investor meeting in Dallas, signaling Southwest’s commitment to adapting to changing consumer preferences and improving its financial performance. “Consumer preferences have changed, and the way we fly has changed,” Jordan emphasized.
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