Southwest Airlines in the USA, which famously served as a model for Ryanair for Michael O’Leary, is considering following Ryanair in introducing pre-assigned seating.
The Dallas-based airline has no pre-assigned seating and open boarding, although it does provide earlier boarding options for a fee. Open boarding was regarded as radical for the time and con traversal when first used by Ryanair on this side of the Atlantic, following Southwest’s lead, to speed up the boarding process.
CEO Bob Jordan mentioned that the airline is exploring new initiatives, including potential changes to the way they seat and board their aircraft, in response to reviewing passenger seating preferences.
While Southwest’s current seating policy is often lauded for its simplicity and user-friendliness, the airline is examining how changes could offer additional revenue opportunities through fees, similar to other airlines like Delta and United.
