US EditionWestJet pauses move to install non-reclining seats after blowback
WestJet paused installing non-reclining seats after complaints about cramped legroom and accessibility; about half the Boeing 737 fleet was reconfigured by mid-December, the airline said.
- WestJet, the Calgary-based airline, has paused installing fixed-recline seats after reconfiguring about half its Boeing 737 jets, during the busy winter travel season.
- Passengers and employees complained about tighter spacing, and the WestJet contingent of the Canadian Union of Public Employees flagged mobility risks and `guest frustration`, launching a campaign last month.
- Reconfiguring 43 Boeing 737 jets, WestJet added an extra row and tiers, using a fixed recline design in economy and offering premium seats that recline and cost more.
- Customer confusion when booking can reduce loyalty as incomplete reconfiguration creates a `seating guessing game`, and some passengers, including Mahala Swisterski, may avoid WestJet or cancel cards.
- WestJet said it will monitor guest and employee feedback and operational performance through winter, plans to restart in spring, and limits rollout to 22 planes `for the time being`.
22 Articles
22 Articles
WestJet suspended the installation of non-tilt seats on much of its fleet after protests by its employees and passengers.
WestJet Pauses Move to Install Non-Reclining Seats After Blowback
WestJet has paused a move to install non-reclining seats on a big slice of its fleet after pushback from employees and passengers. The airline announced in September it would reconfigure the seating on 43 Boeing 737 jets to install an extra row and divide the cabin into several tiers, some with more space—and pricier tickets—than others. Many of the economy seats would have less legroom than the previous layout and feature what WestJet called a …
Westjet will stop the installation of permanently installed economy seats in its Boeing 737 for the time being. This is due to complaints from passengers and crew safety concerns.
WestJet pauses non-reclining seats on Boeing 737 fleet after backlash
WestJet has suspended the planned installation of non-reclining seats across 43 of its Boeing 737 aircraft, restricting the… The post WestJet pauses non-reclining seats on Boeing 737 fleet after backlash appeared first on Air Data News.
MONTREAL — WestJet suspended its plan to install non-tilt seats on a large part of its fleet following protests by its employees and passengers. The airline announced in September its intention to reconfigure the seats of 43 Boeing 737 to add a row and segment the cabin into several categories, some offering more space, and more expensive tickets than others. Many economy-class seats would offer less leg space than with the previous configuratio…
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