Southwest Airlines is weighing installation of First Class seating on select Boeing 737s as part of a broader business-model overhaul that has introduced assigned seating, checked-bag fees and cabin refreshes across its single-aisle fleet. The proposal would break with the carrier’s long-standing single-class identity.
Discovered |
Briefing
This follows Southwest's recent business-model overhaul — including the move to assigned seats and checked-bag fees — measures management says were designed to boost ancillary revenue and operational predictability (Southwest CFO explains seat assignments and bag fees) and came ahead of an unexpected third-quarter profit report (Southwest posts surprise Q3 profit).
It mirrors a broader industry trend toward offering differentiated premium products on single-aisle aircraft — carriers are seeking mini‑suites, extra-legroom economy and premium cabin retrofits to drive revenue per seat (United seeks FAA exemption for business-class mini‑suites; Qantas to launch 'Economy Plus'; American to retrofit 777‑200s with new premium cabins).
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Paddle Your Own Kanoo
• Mateusz Maszczynski