WestJet Airlines has announced a dramatic redesign of its aircraft seating. This long overdue update will increase passenger comfort on transcontinental flights to 19 contiguous U.S. states, Hawaii and U.S.-flagged Puerto Rico. For the economy class seat, the carrier will be eliminating standard reclining as we know it, replacing it with a fixed recline seat. This modification is WestJet’s first move on their plan to reconfigure 43 aircraft recently purchased from failed operators Swoop, Lynx and Sunwing.
The news of the reconfiguration of these 43 aircraft also arrives as WestJet continues to work to modernize its fleet. These planes represent slightly less than a third of the airline’s narrowbody fleet. This decision marks the carrier’s impressive dedication to switching up its product in response to consumer sentiment. The first of the transformed WestJet jets will go into service later this month. Meanwhile, the other 42 planes are slated for delivery by early next year.
WestJet’s trans-border network includes more routes into Washington, D.C., than any other Canadian airline. The choice to use fixed recline on the all-economy section came from guest user testing feedback. According to a representative from WestJet, “Through our guest user testing, half indicated they preferred a fixed recline, to avoid feeling impacted by other passengers encroaching upon their space.”
Seating in the Extended Comfort and Premium cabins of these reconfigured aircraft will retain the full recline feature. This feature provides them with distinct advantages over traditional, typical seating options. Creation of more Premium cabin space will enable WestJet to provide better choice for travelers looking for more comfort on longer flights.
Just last month, WestJet unveiled its redesign. By pursuing this change, they’re showing their dedication to making travel better and keeping pace with what passengers want. A WestJet representative noted, “We need to be willing to try new products and see how they work for Canadians.”
WestJet is adjusting its entire cabin layout to improve comfort and choice for guests. The carrier is dedicated to serving the changing demands of its customers and keeping them happy. The advent of fixed recline seats is inspiring a seating revolution among airlines to reconfigure their cabins. This important innovation could raise the bar for future deployments across the industry.
