Dallas-based Southwest Airlines to End Open Seating, Introduce Assigned and Premium Seats Next Year

Jul 25, 2024, 10:23 AM

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is making significant changes to its business model by abandoning its open seating policy, which has been a defining feature for over 50 years. The airline will start offering assigned seats and premium seating options with extra legroom. This shift, described as the biggest in its history, is partly due to pressure from activist investor Elliott Management. Additionally, Southwest is introducing new red-eye flight options. The company also reported better-than-expected second-quarter profits, with adjusted earnings per share at 58 cents, surpassing the estimated 51 cents. These changes are aimed at broadening Southwest's appeal to passengers and boosting profits, with bookings expected to start next year.