A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 lands at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia on May 7, 2023.
Nicholas Economu | Noor Photos | Getty Images
Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Bob Jordan told CNBC on Thursday that the company is considering changes to its cabins that could include moving away from a single-class, open-seating system to increase revenue.
The changes would mark a dramatic shift for an airline that has distinguished itself from rivals for decades with a simpler business model.
“We’re looking at new initiatives like the way we seat and board our aircraft,” Jordan said in an interview after the airline released a disappointing first-quarter report.
Everything in the southwest——boeing company The 737 fleet only has one economy class cabin and no seat assignments, but it does offer passengers early boarding for a fee so they can grab their preferred seat. The airline has spent years trying to keep its products simple and user-friendly, aiming to keep costs and complexity to a minimum.
Meanwhile, competitors include delta and Unity Touting high revenue growth and strong upsell rates for premium seats such as business class.
Jordan said no decision has been made on what changes Southwest will ultimately make, but he said research has produced “interesting” results.
“Customer preferences do change over time,” Jordan said.
—CNBC Phil LeBeau contributed to this report.
About The Author
