Get the latest tech news

Southwest to get rid of open seating, offer extra legroom

Southwest is under pressure to drum up revenue from an oversupplied U.S. market and an activist investor.

Southwest executives have said for years that they were studying such changes and hinted in April that the airline was seriously considering assigning seats and offering extra legroom options. The airline currently puts customers in one of three boarding groups and assigns a number, setting off a mad dash to check in a day before the flight. "Although our unique open seating model has been a part of Southwest Airlines since our inception, our thoughtful and extensive research makes it clear this is the right choice — at the right time — for our Customers, our People, and our Shareholders," CEO Bob Jordan said in a news release Thursday.

Get the Android app