Sisi Chan

WestJet pauses installing non-reclining seats after blowback — for now

Canada’s WestJet has hit the pause button on its controversial installation of non-reclining seats due to significant negative reaction. The decision was driven by feedback both from passengers and crew members, who raised concerns about diminished comfort.

WestJet’s initial plan involved creating a seating hierarchy in their 43 Boeing 737 aircrafts. The lowest tier was to feature non-reclining seats, coupled with reduced legroom compared to current offerings.

Despite the pushback: WestJet is forging ahead with these seating changes on 22 planes. However, the airline will continue to consider passenger and employee feedback throughout this transition.

The proposed changes did not go unnoticed by the union, which voiced concerns over reduced legroom leading to potential exhaustion for crew members.

Looking forward: WestJet anticipates potentially resuming the seat reconfiguration in spring. This decision will be based on feedback received and the operational performance of the refitted planes.

WestJet’s proposed changes reflect an industry-wide trend towards dwindling comfort in economy class. Airlines are increasingly dependent on additional charges for enhanced services, signaling a potential shift in the passenger-airline dynamic.