News

Cranky Flier

Southwest abandons assigned seating after two‑month trial, returns to open seating

After just over two months of assigned seating, Southwest has abandoned the experiment and restored its traditional open‑seating model. The carrier framed the rollback as a response to public reaction and operational friction tied to the change, reversing a key element of its recent service overhaul.

2026-04-01T03:59:59.785634-07:00

Skift

Southwest 2.0: The Radical Reinvention of America’s Favorite Cult Airline

2026-03-31T10:21:09.284570-07:00

semafor.com

JetBlue hires advisers to explore sale or merger with United, Alaska or Southwest amid antitrust scrutiny

2026-03-25T11:07:20.508922-07:00

PaxEx.Aero

Southwest to exit Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles on June 4, consolidating at Midway, BWI and DCA

2026-03-13T08:54:44.633541-07:00

News Timeline

Cranky Flier

❗️

Southwest abandons assigned seating after two‑month trial, returns to open seating After just over two months of assigned seating, Southwest has abandoned the experiment and restored its traditional open‑seating model. The carrier framed the rollback as a response to public reaction and operational friction tied to the change, reversing a key element of its recent service overhaul.

2026-04-01T03:59:59.785634-07:00

Southwest abandons assigned seating after two‑month trial, returns to open seating

Skift

❗️

Southwest 2.0: The Radical Reinvention of America’s Favorite Cult Airline After decades of operating on its own terms, Southwest is shedding hallmark quirks and adopting mainstream airline practices. The carrier’s reinvention — moving away from its cult identity toward conventional revenue, network and operational models — reshapes U.S. competitive dynamics in short- and medium-haul markets.

2026-03-31T10:21:09.284570-07:00

Southwest 2.0: The Radical Reinvention of America’s Favorite Cult Airline

semafor.com

❗️

JetBlue hires advisers to explore sale or merger with United, Alaska or Southwest amid antitrust scrutiny JetBlue has hired advisers to evaluate strategic options, including a potential sale or merger, with United, Alaska and Southwest identified as frontrunners. Management is weighing combinations while factoring in rising antitrust scrutiny in Washington that could determine deal viability.

2026-03-25T11:07:20.508922-07:00

JetBlue hires advisers to explore sale or merger with United, Alaska or Southwest amid antitrust scrutiny

Wall Street Journal

❗️

Southwest's $1B Bet: Assigned Seating, Ancillaries and a Transformational Business Shift Southwest is spending roughly $1 billion to overhaul its product and operations, ending decades of open seating and rolling out assigned seating, ancillary fees and cabin reconfigurations — a transformational shift CEO Bob Jordan ties to activist pressure. Executives say early results indicate the changes are working.

2026-03-20T06:39:25.178745-07:00

Southwest's $1B Bet: Assigned Seating, Ancillaries and a Transformational Business Shift

New York Times

Southwest’s new extra‑seat rule prompts passenger complaints of public body‑scrutiny at gates Since Southwest implemented a new extra‑seat policy earlier this year, passengers say gate and ticket agents have publicly scrutinized their bodies and forced some to buy additional seats. The complaints allege inconsistent enforcement and public humiliation as the carrier applies its paid seating rules.

2026-03-17T16:18:21.495040-07:00

Southwest’s new extra‑seat rule prompts passenger complaints of public body‑scrutiny at gates

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

❗️

Southwest passenger assaults TSA agents and injures police officer at Dallas Love Field A Southwest Airlines passenger assaulted Transportation Security Administration agents and injured a police officer at Dallas Love Field, and now faces serious criminal charges. The assault prompted an immediate law-enforcement response at the terminal as authorities opened an investigation into the circumstances and security ramifications.

2026-03-14T11:37:52.279316-07:00

Southwest passenger assaults TSA agents and injures police officer at Dallas Love Field

PaxEx.Aero

❗️

Southwest to exit Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles on June 4, consolidating at Midway, BWI and DCA Southwest Airlines will end service at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD) on June 4, redirecting flights to Chicago Midway (MDW), Baltimore–Washington (BWI) and Reagan National (DCA). The move ends a multi‑year experiment at ORD after failing to displace United and American.

2026-03-13T08:54:44.633541-07:00

Southwest to exit Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles on June 4, consolidating at Midway, BWI and DCA

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

❗️

Southwest restricts jumpseat access to pilots and flight attendants, cutting off non‑crew perk Southwest Airlines has banned non‑crew employees from using aircraft jumpseats, limiting access solely to pilots and flight attendants. The move removes a longstanding non‑rev travel benefit and has sparked employee backlash as staff who relied on jumpseat travel seek alternatives.

2026-03-10T03:20:34.405720-07:00

Southwest restricts jumpseat access to pilots and flight attendants, cutting off non‑crew perk

Menu

Southwest Airlines News

Southwest abandons assigned seating after two‑month trial, returns to open seating

Southwest 2.0: The Radical Reinvention of America’s Favorite Cult Airline

JetBlue hires advisers to explore sale or merger with United, Alaska or Southwest amid antitrust scrutiny

Southwest to exit Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles on June 4, consolidating at Midway, BWI and DCA

News Timeline