Southwest Airlines has announced that it will be adjusting its cabin service procedures on flights starting next month.
Effective December 4, flight attendants will initiate the pre-landing preparation of the cabin at 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) instead of the previous altitude of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). The purpose of this change is to “reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries” for both crew members and passengers, according to a company spokesperson.
As a result, passengers will now need to complete standard pre-landing tasks—such as securing their seatbelts and returning seats to an upright position—sooner than before.
While fatalities from turbulence incidents are rare, there have been numerous injuries over the years, with more than one-third of all airline incidents in the United States between 2009 and 2018 involving turbulence resulting in one or more serious injuries but no damage to the aircraft, as reported by the National Transportation Safety Board.
In a tragic incident in May, a 73-year-old man lost his life on a Singapore Airlines flight due to severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean.
Southwest Airlines has also announced additional changes for the future.
Starting next year, the airline will be phasing out a long-standing tradition of “open seating”—allowing passengers to select their own seats after boarding.
