US EditionWestJet goes back on plan to reduce legroom on planes following ‘feedback’
WestJet will restore the previous seat layout on select flights after customer and staff backlash over reduced legroom and non-reclining seats affected passenger comfort.
- WestJet said Friday that it is reversing its move to shrink legroom by cancelling a seat configuration that added an extra row and will restore prior seat pitch on select flights.
- The reconfiguration aimed to reduce costs and expand capacity, but WestJet reversed course after employee and customer backlash, with CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech saying they tried global seat pitches to provide `affordable airfares`.
- The layout, which used a 28-inch pitch and fixed backs, drew criticism after a December TikTok showed an Alberta woman's parents struggling to extend their legs, and WestJet executives tested the seats in a social experiment last week.
- Advocates raised accessibility and safety concerns, and WestJet said it would act quickly if guest needs weren’t met, with the capacity now affected by the reversal of the 180-seat configuration.
- The reversal comes as Canada’s airspace duopoly remains influenced by a Competition Bureau report recommending measures like easing the 49 per cent foreign-ownership cap.
27 Articles
27 Articles
WestJet Halts Plans for New ‘Densified’ Seating After Backlash on Legroom
WestJet has announced it will reverse its decision to decrease passengers’ legroom in order to accommodate more seating, following unfavourable feedback from customers. The airline announced last September its plan to reconfigure some of its cabins to add more seats by reducing space between rows in its economy class, and adding in seats with fixed-back designs. The company said at the time the move would offer more seating options for its Boein…
The new configuration had been criticized by many customers and employees.
Airline dropping non-reclinable economy seats after passenger backlash, viral videos
WestJet Airlines said on Friday it will scrap non-reclinable economy seating on certain Boeing 737 jets, following a slew of complaints and videos on social media showing travelers' knees pressed up against the seats ahead of them.
Travellers grunt back WestJet. Alberta's air carrier is moving its plan to add an extra row to its aircraft with fixed-tilt seats that reduced the space for its passengers' legs.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
