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It is the top of an period at Southwest Airways as the corporate has introduced it’s altering its seating course of for the primary time in additional than 50 years.
In an announcement Thursday, the corporate, based in 1967, instructed prospects it could be shifting to assigned seating for the primary time in its historical past. The airline has historically been characterised by its distinctive coverage of no passenger-assigned seating.
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“After listening rigorously to prospects and conducting intensive analysis, Southwest determined it is going to assign seats and provide premium seating choices on all flights,” the airline mentioned. “The airline has been recognized for its distinctive open seating mannequin for greater than 50 years, however preferences have advanced with extra Clients taking longer flights the place a seat project is most well-liked.”
Southwest mentioned that, primarily based on testing, an estimated 80% of consumers want assigned seating, whereas 86% of potential prospects need the identical.
The airline mentioned it hopes to draw extra prospects by adopting the brand new mannequin however didn’t specify when the modifications could be applied, solely revealing that extra particulars could be introduced in September.
“Transferring to assigned seating and providing premium legroom choices will likely be a transformational change that cuts throughout virtually all elements of the corporate,” Bob Jordan, president, CEO, and vice chairman of the Board at Southwest mentioned in an organization assertion. “Though our distinctive open seating mannequin has been part of Southwest Airways since our inception, our considerate and intensive analysis makes it clear that is the best alternative— on the proper time—for our Clients, our Individuals, and our Shareholders.”
The choice comes after speculation in April when Jordan hinted at potential modifications coming to the airline’s boarding course of following a tough Q1 2024 earnings report.
Associated: Southwest Airlines CEO Says the Company May Start Assigning Seats
“We’re wanting into new initiatives, issues like the way in which we seat and board our plane,” Jordan told the outlet on the time. “Buyer preferences do change over time.”
Southwest Airways was up almost 6.4% in a 24-hour interval upon the information of the brand new boarding course of Thursday morning.
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