WestJet Abandons Plan to Increase Seat Density Amid Passenger Complaints
WestJet, Canada’s second-largest carrier and a partner of Delta Airlines, has announced that it is canceling its plan to add more seats to some of its planes. The decision comes after the airline faced widespread criticism from passengers who felt that the tighter seating arrangement was uncomfortable and inhumane. The plan, which was intended to reduce ticket prices, involved adding an extra row of seats to nearly two dozen aircraft, resulting in a loss of about two inches of space between rows.
The backlash against the plan was fueled in part by a video posted on social media by Amanda Schmidt, whose parents were traveling on a WestJet flight with the new seating arrangement. The video, which has been viewed over one million times, shows the couple struggling to fit into their seats. Schmidt told CBS News that the seating arrangement was “inhumane” and that “if they’re selling a seat for a human, it should fit a human.” Her comments reflect the concerns of many passengers who feel that the pursuit of profit should not come at the expense of comfort and safety.
Industry-Wide Trend Towards Tighter Seating
WestJet is not the only airline to have adopted tighter seating arrangements in recent years. Other carriers, such as Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, have also implemented similar changes in an effort to increase capacity and reduce costs. However, this trend has raised concerns among safety experts, who warn that tighter seating could potentially cause issues in emergency situations. According to Robert Sumwalt, former chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, “it certainly stands to reason that if you decrease the amount of space between the seats, it’s going to make it more difficult for someone to get out in the event of an emergency.”
The lack of regulation around airplane seat size and spacing in the US has allowed airlines to pursue these types of arrangements with relative impunity. However, WestJet’s decision to abandon its plan suggests that passenger feedback and concerns can still have an impact on airline policy. The company’s CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, stated that “it’s in our DNA to try new products” but also acknowledged the importance of responding to customer needs. The airline has announced that it will return to its prior standard seat pitch for economy cabins on the affected aircraft, removing one row of seats to increase passenger comfort.
Conclusion and Next Steps
WestJet’s decision to abandon its tighter seating plan is a victory for passengers who value comfort and safety. However, the broader issue of seat density and spacing remains a concern for the airline industry as a whole. As airlines continue to pursue ways to increase capacity and reduce costs, it is essential that they do so in a way that prioritizes passenger needs and safety. For more information on this story, visit Here
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