Southwest Airlines is changing direction. The airline announced this morning that it’s going to sunset its open-seating concept — which lets passengers board by group and sit in any seat that’s open — and start assigning seats.
Southwest has long said that customers love its open seating, and while some do, the airline found that 80% of customers it surveyed want assigned seats instead.
TPG spoke exclusively with the airline’s chief operating officer, Andrew Watterson, who outlined the airline’s need for changes even as it tries to maintain its unique culture.
The changes come as Southwest fends off an activist investor who wants to fire the airline’s leaders and shake up its business model. Although the airline has tactics to try and block a hostile takeover, executives freely admit that something needs to change as the airline industry struggles to maintain its finances amid supply chain disruptions and overcapacity in the short-haul market.
What do you think about these Southwest changes? Head over to TPG’s Instagram and share your thoughts.
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