Southwest Considering Cabin Changes to Boost Revenue as Rivals See Premium Seat Success

In a recent interview with CNBC, CEO Bob Jordan of Southwest Airlines disclosed that the company is mulling over modifications in its present cabin configuration characterized by single economy class and open seating layout without designated seats. These changes aim at driving up revenue for the airline which has maintained simplicity as an integral part of its strategy since long. While other airlines like Delta and United have witnessed impressive growth in premium seat sales, Southwest’s product design remains unchanged despite repeated requests from analysts to explore opportunities for additional fees or premium seating options. The carrier does not charge travelers for their first two checked bags but competitor airlines including American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines generate over $4 billion in annual revenue by charging passengers to select preferred seats with extra legroom via ancillary charges on domestic routes alone according to aviation expert Jay Sorensen. Jordan clarified that no decisions have been made regarding the kind of modifications yet as results from recent studies remain interesting, highlighting evolving customer preferences over time but indicated it could move towards separate cabin design would not fit in with Southwest Airlines’ principles at this point. The airline also ruled out charging for checked bags since customers prefer flying without such fees.