Southwest Airlines is gearing up for some major changes over the next two years, and the airline is confident the overhaul will be a big win for its passengers.
With more red eyes and shift work. to assigned seats After 50 years of open seating, Southwest is redesigning the interior cabins of 800 of its existing aircraft.
“This is a very significant change. This could be one of the most significant changes we’ve ever had,” Ryan Green, Southwest’s vice president of commercial innovation, told CBS News’ Kris Van Cleave in a recent sneak peek. Cabin of the future.
Southwest passengers will notice a difference, Van Cleave said of the redesign. Changes include new seat trays and device trays for all passengers throughout the cabin, as well as charging ports at every seat.
For an additional fee, premium seats with 3 to 4 inches more legroom are also available on converted planes.
“Customers want all kinds of premiums, and there’s a lot of value in having more legroom on long-haul flights,” Southwest CEO Bob Jordan told CBS News.
Southwest said it will begin accepting reservations for seated flights in the second half of 2025 for travel in the first half of 2026. The airline also expects to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to enable newly designed cabins.
Jordan and other Southwest executives explained: Airline remodeling plan At an investor conference in Dallas this week. The changes come as the company, long known for its loyal customers, seeks to meet the changing needs of passengers and increase revenue.
“Consumer preferences have changed and the way we fly has changed,” Jordan said.
Kris Van Cleave contributed to this report.
